Amavubi Stars attacking duo to miss CHAN finals

AMAVUBI striking duo of Kipson Atuheire and Dady Birori are expected to miss the upcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled to be held in Khartoum, Sudan.

After poor preparations which have been marred by clubs failing to release players, Rwanda has suffered a major blow upfront after strikers, Dady Birori failed to report to camp while Atuheire’s club APR is yet to secure his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from his former club SC Villa to enable him compete in championship reserved for local based players.

Coach Sellas Tetteh, who is eager to redeem his reputation after losing his first two 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Benin, is yet to announce replacement for the duo.

"It’s not easy for us to find better replacements but we will have to do the needful. I am still waiting for Birori, who may return anytime [from DR Congo] but I will still have to access his fitness levels before I make any decision,” noted the Ghanaian tactician.

Without the duo, Tetteh will rely on Rayon Sport pair of Peter Kagabo and Abedi Mulenda. Kagabo had a good stint in last year’s Cecafa Challenge Cup while a poor performance from Mulenda in the tournament’s (Cecafa) opening match against Cote d’Ivoire cost him a place on the starting line-up for the entire competition.

Only handful turns up for training

SC Kiyovu’s Jack Tuyisenge and Yusuf Ndayishimiye are the other options in case Tetteh decided to add to his front line.

Ndayishimiye once led Amavubi’s attacking line well during the 2009 Cecafa Challenge cup in Kenya under then interim coach Eric Ndayishyimiye and most people expected a lot from him, but he has since disappeared from the scene.

With just over a week before the tournament kicks off in the Sudan capital, Khartoum, a handful of the provisional 23-man squad showed up for yesterday’s training after featuring for their respective clubs in the Primus National Football League (PNFL) matches in mid week.

Tetteh is still waiting for first team players from APR and Etincelles, who will be playing for their clubs in this weekend’s Africa Champions league and Confederation Cup respectively.

One of Rwanda’s Group D opponents Angola are in Brazil continuing with their preparations where they are scheduled to play series of friendly matches before flying to Khartoum.

The tournament, which is reserved for players featuring in their respective domestic leagues, will attract 16 teams split into four groups.

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