AMAVUBI assistant skipper Haruna Niyonzima has linked up with the national team in their training camp based in Rubavu, Western Province ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Mali away in Bamako on June 9.
World Cup qualifierJune 9Mali vs. RwandaAMAVUBI assistant skipper Haruna Niyonzima has linked up with the national team in their training camp based in Rubavu, Western Province ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Mali away in Bamako on June 9.The Young Africans midfielder reached Kigali yesterday, from Dar es salaam and was expected to head to Rubavu in the afternoon according to head coach Eric Nshimiyimana.Nshimiyimana told Times Sport yesterday that the team is training twice a day at Tam Tam grounds, located on the shores of Lake Kivu. The team is residing at Belvedere Hotel."We reached Rubavu on Sunday afternoon. We have trained twice today [Monday]. The mood is positive and we are looking forward to a successful training period before heading to Mali,”"We are expecting professional players any time. Haruna is set to join us today [Monday] while Eric Gasana will come on Thursday,” added Nshimiyimana who was appointed head coach last month replacing his former boss and current Uganda Cranes coach Sredojovic Milutin Micho.Last week, he summoned a 26-man team comprised of five foreign based players and 21 players from the domestic league.Other foreign based players expected in camp include; Amavubi skipper Olivier Karekezi [CA Bizertin], Solomon Nirisarike [Antweerp] and Elias Uzamukunda [AS Cannes].Though they are out of contention for a place in the second round of qualification for the 2014 World Cup, Nshimiyimana is eager to register good performances against Mali and Algeria next month.Rwanda are bottom of the standings with one point with three matches remaining to the end of the qualifying campaign. The matches include two away matches against Mali and Benin and a home tie against Algeria