Junior Wasps team depart for Namibia

A confident U-20 national team, Junior Wasps, heads to Windhoek today for a tricky encounter against Namibia in this weekend’s Africa Under-20 championship qualifier.

Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Junior Wasps leave today for Namibia ahead of Saturdayu2019s AYC U-20 African Championships qualifier. Inset is their coach Richard Tardy. The New Times/File.

AYC U-20 qualifyingSaturdayNamibia vs RwandaA confident U-20 national team, Junior Wasps, heads to Windhoek today for a tricky encounter against Namibia in this weekend’s Africa Under-20 championship qualifier.The Junior Wasps flies to Namibia aboard RwandAir at 11am. They will have a stop-over in Johannesburg before connecting to Windhoek aboard South Africa airways later in the evening.Head coach Richard Tardy told Times Sport yesterday, "We are heading into Saturday’s game with an aim of snatching a good result to open up our chance of qualifying in Kigali.”"The players are confident and looking forward to follow their success of 2011 where they managed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup finals."Many players have gained experience because of playing in the top flight league and we hope they will try to open a new chapter of Rwandan football by reaching the African youth championship finals in Algeria next year,” added Tardy.Tardy, who named a 19-man team yesterday, added that he would drop one player after this morning’s final training session.Among players confirmed for the qualifier include skipper Emery Bayisenge, Belgium-based defender Solomon Nirisarike, Ugandan-based pair of Bonny Bayingana and Charles Tibingana, Kipson Atuheire and Emmanuel Sebanani.France-based Bon Fils Kabanda, Roberty Ndatimana and Eric Nsabimana are among other players who have their places confirmed on the team. The return leg will take place in Kigali between May 4 and 6.The junior wasps’ team which is mainly comprised of players, who featured in the U-17 World Cup finals in Mexico, last year, is hoping to eliminate Namibia and qualify for the finals tournament to be held in Algiers, Algeria next year.Junior Wasps squad:Olivier Kwizera, Steven Ntalibi, Hamdan Bariyanga, Michel Rusheshangoga, Faustin Usengimana, Salomon Nirisarike, Francois Hakizimana, Patrick Umwungeli, Emery Bayisenge, Eric Nsabimana, Robert Ndatimana, Tumaine Ntamuhanga, Bonfils Kabanda, Bonny Bayingana, Amran Nshimiyimana, Charles Mwesigye Tibingana, Saifi Farouk Ruhinda, Kipson Atuheire and Emmanuel Sebanani.