Niyonzima tips youthful Amavubi to triumph

Amavubi captain Haruna Niyonzima has tipped a largely youthful Amavubi team to get a positive result against Morocco in Marrakesh in an international friendly today. Niyonzima, who plies his trade for Young Africans (Yanga) in Tanzania, was excluded from the squad following coach Stephen Constantine’s decision to field only locally based players in preparation for the 2016 African Cup of Nations that will be hosted by Rwanda. “I am very happy for the players who have been selected because this game will help them to prepare for Chan. The only advice I can give them is to go out and enjoy themselves and not be intimidated by the Moroccans,” Niyonzima said adding that the team is good enough to get a win. The midfielder who has worn the armband for two years believes that under Constantine, Amavubi will do well as long as they execute his plans. Niyonzima also expressed his joy over Constantine’s decision to summon young players from ‘smaller clubs’. He said, “They should believe in themselves and know that everything is possible. Hard work will see them grow into better players.” Meanwhile, Constantine revealed that his target is to win today’s game. “We try to win every game that we play but you do not win all the games. We have a very positive group of players and I am very happy with the work but I think with this particular game, we have a lot of new and young players and they need experience.” “We have players who have played for the U-17 national side but have played only two international games in their entire life and the ones who have played for the U-20 have maybe played three games and this is not the way to build the team. We have to develop the U-17s and the U-20s.” “At the moment we are not doing this, we have to put 20 and 21 year olds in their first international games with no experience but this is what we have. We try to develop these players and we need games to do this,” explained Constantine. The game will be played at the Complexe Sportif de FES in Marrakesh at 9:00pm. Amavubi team: Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Olivier Kwizera, Michel Rusheshangoga, Hamdan Bariyanga, Sibomana Abouba, Emery Bayisenge, Herve Rugwiro, Ismael Nshutiyamagara, Jean Paul Havugarurema, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Rachid Kalisa, Kevin Muhire, Robert Ndatimana, Jean Claude Iranzi, Patrick Sibomana, Jacques Tuyisenge, Justin Mico, Bertrand Iradukunda, Ernest Sugira, Dany Usengimana, Innocent Ndizeye.

Sports

Niyonzima tips youthful Amavubi to triumph