Rwanda and Tanzania settled for a 1-all draw when their U-23 national football teams clashed at CCM Kirumba stadium in Mwanza yesterday. Midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza opened the scoring for Rwanda in the eighth minute before the hosts equalised through Kelvin Friday one minute from half-time. Mugiraneza, who occupied one of the three slots meant for overage players, met a well taken corner kick from Patrick Sibomana which he headed in past a hapless Peter Manyika to give the Junior Wasps an early lead. But Friday leveled matters one minute from the half time mark following a commanding run of play on the counter attack that exposed Amavubi’s naivety having lost the ball in midfield. “It was a fair result and we are disappointed not to win,” Lee Johnson, the interim head coach of Amavubi who was in charge of his first game since his appointment last week told Times Sport. “We played so well in the first half and credit to them. We were unlucky to concede in the 44th minute but we were punished for lack of concentration.” He decried the poor state of the pitch which he said affected his boys’ performance. But Johnson reckoned it was a good experience for both the younger and experienced players nonetheless. The tie was the first of several friendly games for the youthful side that is preparing for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifier against Somalia in March. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
