2010 WC/Africa Cup qualifiers

Saturday

Rwanda  v  Mauritania

Amavubi Stars coach Blanko Tucak is faced with the most enviable dilemma of any coach and that is team selection. The Croat has a fully fit 31- star-studded squad for the opening 2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Mauritania scheduled on Saturday.

Tucak is surely enjoying the luxury of having a big squad to pick from but to select 18 players from 31 could leave him with a little non painful headache.

The arrival of professionals Olivier Karekezi(Hamarkameratene, Norway), Fritz Emeran Nkusi(Levadiakos, Greece), Bobo Bola(Laundskbois, Sweden)  on Tuesday and Saidi Abedi Makasi (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) yesterday did not only reinforce the team but showed that Ferwafa has done everything possible to assemble the best Amavubi Stars in recent years.

Other professional players who had arrived earlier include Jabo Mutsinzi (US Creteil Lusitanos, France, Mwizerwa Ngabo (FC Wiltz 71, Luxembourg) and Hamad Ndikumana Katauti (Anorthosis, Cyprus).

The Croat admits to facing the toughest task on his Amavubi reign of selecting the best possible squad, which he won’t name until on the eve of the match.

Contrary to recent years, where certain players were assured of an automatic place on the team, the Croat will be forced to adopt other methods of naming the final squad as every player on the team is excelling in his given position in the past days of training at Remera grounds.

In goal, Jean-Claude Ndoli may retain his starting place but Jean-Luc Ndayishimiye, Evaliste Mutuyimana and Charles Hakizimana will attest more than capable deputies coming off the bench.

At the back, Ismail Nshutinamagara and Hamad Ndikumana might be automatic starters, but Bonaventure Hategikimana, Amani Uwiringiyimana, Arafat Serugendo and Aloua Gaseruka are giving unquestionable performances in training to justify contemplation.

In Elias Ntaganda and Jean-Bosco Uwacu, Amavubi team is already blessed with exceptional fullbacks, but in new entrants Aimable Rucogoza, Boubakary Saddou and Fritz Nkusi, Amavubi can boast of a pair of that symbolizes the modern fullback which is capable of strong ball-winning, and spur for attacking play.

In the middle, pace, experience and the general skills at this level are three conditions that will separate the probable starting pair of Haruna Niyonzima and Jean-Claude Iranzi from that of Ngabo Mwizerwa and Albert Nyumbayire.

Mutesa Mafisango will be Tucak’s preferred choice at the tip of the holding role as he has tested him numerously in the training.

Jean-Baptista Mugiraneza, Jabo Mutsinzi can occupy that position but Hegman Ngoma and Eric Gasana’s use of the ball as well as the pair’s body movement could get them the nod.

Tucak, who has stuck to the 3-5-2 formation in every training session, could withdraw Karekezi from attack back in the midfield role.

The Norwegian based star has started as a striker in the seven league fixtures played for his club, Hamarkameratene.

In attack, the coach is also expected to face a challenge in choosing his strikers. All the seven strikers have done everything to convince the coach that they deserve a nod. It should be (Bokota Labama and Abedi Said), or a lone front-man (Abedi) with Bokota playing behind him

With three games in June, Elias Uzamukunda, Peter Kagabo, James Uwimana, Abedi Mulenda, and Bobo Bola will definitely be given a shot either in Kigali, Addis Ababa or in Rabat.

Ends