We said last week on the eve of Rwanda’s match against Mauritania that Amavubi now have what it takes to achieve the 2004 feat when they memorably qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations which took place in Tunisia.

For them to relive that glory, together with the whole nation, they need to repeat such exploits of winning away from home like they did in Addis Ababa two days ago.

Amavubi head coach Tucak Blanko has so many resources at his disposal he could even afford to leave out for both the Mauritania and Ethiopia matches an established professional, defender Fritz Mutsinzi, who plays for Greece premier division Levadiakos.

Watching the national team playing against Ethiopia, you wouldn’t rate their performance as great. Some observers have said only luck was at their side because their opponents missed several chances in the first half.

Yet while critics point to a lacklustre show in the first 45 minutes, they admit it was a totally different story in the second half, saying Blanko’s men redeemed themselves by playing a solid game when it mattered most.

The new head coach is only two months into the job. The players he is using were as available to his predecessor and compatriot, Croat Josip Kuze.

Jado Mutsinzi, Mwizerwa Ngabo, Hamad Ndikumana, Said Abedi Makasi and Bobo Bola, all players who ply their trade for a living in European countries, were part of Kuze’s contingent.

Two wins, one draw and a loss make an acceptable start for Blanko. It has been severally said, however, that he has benefited from a Ferwafa which is no longer very eager to interfere in team selection matters.

And this is not to say Blanko does fully deserve his credit so far. Rather, it is to urge the national football governing body to stay out of the team’s affairs if their non-direct involvement is going to deliver the kind of results Amavubi are turning in lately.

Ends