Pros to feature in 2010 World Cup/CAN qualifiersWith the hope of turning around the country’s declining football fortunes, the local football’s governing body, Ferwafa is still on the heels of Mohammed Tchite a.k.a Meme with hopes of persuading him to don the national jersey.
Pros to feature in 2010 World Cup/CAN qualifiers
With the hope of turning around the country’s declining football fortunes, the local football’s governing body, Ferwafa is still on the heels of Mohammed Tchite a.k.a Meme with hopes of persuading him to don the national jersey.
According to the federation’s Brig. Gen. John Bosco Kazura, Meme who features for Spanish La Liga club Racing Santander is also being pursued by Burundi and DR Congo to feature for their respective national teams but the latter has never revealed where his heart falls.
"We have taken a long time trying to convince him to feature for Amavubi stars and we shall keeping doing so until a response is got,"
"We can’t give up on him (Meme), we will keep on trying because no one knows if he can choose neither Rwanda nor any other country," Kazura said.
The ex-Mukura player signed for Racing Santander from Belgian champions Anderlecht before the close of the transfer window, and signed a five-year contract.
A transfer fee of U.S. $10m was agreed for the transfer and the 24-year-old’s presence has made a big difference in the club currently chasing a champion’s league slot in the Spanish league.
The 24-year-old played an instrumental role in Anderlecht’s 29th title success last season. He scored 20 goals in 30 appearances and was also named Belgium’s Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.
The Cantabrian club splashed the cash to secure Tchite as they met the Belgian club’s asking price of $ 7.5m for the central African born.
Tchite joined the Brussels-based outfit from rivals Standard Liege for just $1.5m and saw his reputation grow in several campaigns.
Meme netted 20 goals in 30 appearances and that attracted interest from across Europe, with Racing eventually clinching a deal.
In a related development, Ferwafa is set to summon European based professional players ahead of the 2010 World and Africa Cup qualifiers which get underway late this month.
Kazura said, "Our professional players abroad will be summoned for this year’s qualifiers,"
"Every player would love to feature for his country but it will depend on the head coach (Blanko Tucak) to select the team for the the qualifiers," Kazura added.
Bobo Bola who features for Swedish second division side Landskronabois, Olivier Karekezi who features for Norway’s premier league side Ham Kam and Said Abedi plies his trade at Israel premier league club of Hapoel have who shown willingness to feature for the national team in the forthcoming in the qualifiers .
Rwanda is drawn against Morocco, Mauritania and Ethiopia in group 8 with first game against Mauritania on May 30 in Kigali.
List of known Rwandan Professionals
H. Ndikumana - Anorthosis (Cyprus)
J. Mulisa - FC Hamme (Belgium)
O. Karekezi - Ham Kam, (Norway)
Fritz Nkusi - (Greece)
B. Bola - Laundskbois (Sweden)
Ramadhan Nkuzingoma- (DRC)
Said Abedi- Hapoel (Israel)
I. Ndagano- Pirnemonp (Belgium)
D. Habarugira- URoyal (Belgium)
M. Rukundo- Salford City (Eng)
O. Hitimana- Express FC (Uga)
Ends