MILUTIN Micho insists Amavubi are on the way up despite losing Saturday’s Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup final.

The wasps lost out on penalties (2-3) against the Uganda Cranes after a 2-all draw in extra minute of what could arguably be the most thrilling final in the tournament’s history.

The result handed Uganda a record 12th title and stretched Rwanda’s trophy drought to 11 years.  

However, the Serbian tactician, who is only 40days old in the Amavubi job, maintains that defeat does not mean it’s all gloom.

"I feel for the boys. They played their hearts out and deserved more from the final. But it would still be unfair to criticise the team because they gave everything throughout the tournament and were unlucky not to bring the trophy home,” Micho, who scooped the best coach award, said.

"We played well in the final and created numerous chances but things did not go our way.”

"Overall, I feel the team’s performance in Dar es Salaam is a good morale booster ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers as well as the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers,” he added.

Hardly two months into the job, Micho has already proved his potential after a run of six wins, one draw and one defeat.

Last month, the former Orlando Pirates coach, guided Rwanda into the group stages of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers after a 4-2 aggregates win over Eritrea.

On the way to the Cecafa final, Rwanda claimed five wins; 1-0 win over Tanzania, 2-0 win over Zimbabwe, 5-2 victory over Djibouti, 2-1 win over Zanzibar and 2-1 win over Sudan.

The final was a repeat of the 2009 final were the Cranes won 2-0 in Nairobi.

For their efforts on Saturday, Amavubi took home $20,000 (approx. Rwf 12m) while Uganda pocketed $30,000 (approx. Rwf18m). Tanzania settled for $10,000 (approx. Rwf6m) following their 1-0 third-place playoff victory over Sudan.

The team jetted back last evening aboard Rwandair.

Ends