Amavubi’s best is yet to come, says Mugiraneza

Following Amavubi Stars recent impressive win over Libya, midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza says the team has indeed improved but the best is yet to come. Rwanda booked a place in the final preliminary qualifying round of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after thrashing Libya 3-0 in the second leg clash at Kigali Regional Stadium last month. The first leg in Tunis had ended goalless. Rwanda will face Congo Brazzaville in the final round. Congo knocked out Namibia 3-1 on aggregate. In an interview with Saturday Sport recently, Mugiraneza, one of the senior citizens in the team, said there’s solidarity and team spirit more than ever before, which he says helped in the win against the 2013 Chan winners. Rwanda will visit Congo Brazzaville on the weekend of July 18–20 where Stephen Constantine’s team will be trying to get a good result before hosting the second leg two weeks later in Kigali. Mugiraneza has hailed the influence of the new coach whom he says his training style has transformed the team within a short period of time. “He is different from all the coaches I have worked with on the national team.” “I am happy with the way we played against strong teams like Libya and we assure you (Rwandans) that this year will be for us, we are going to give everything for our nation, we are confident we can be a better side more than we are today,” the former SC Kiyovu player said. The APR vice captain added, “We have a solid side, and we have what it takes to compete against the top teams in Africa as we demonstrated against Libya. I am sure we can do it against any opposition so far. We will continue to fight hard against any team we will be meeting, we don’t fear.” Amavubi pulled off probably the biggest shock of these qualifiers thanks to a well-headed hat-trick by striker Dady Birori.