CHAN: Fans on the edge as Amavubi squares up to DR Congo in fiery derby

After twelve days of group stages of the fourth African Nations Championship (CHAN), boys have been separated from men, with the knockouts that start tomorrow throwing the dice down the derby dais. What with the first quarter-final game serving up search a mouth-watering rivalry between hosts Rwanda and neighbours DR Congo at Amahoro National Stadium! The 3pm kickoff no-love-lost game is one every soccer fan prayed for and against in equal measure. Already, the euphoria has been tinged and both sets of fans are treating the encounter like a final, hyping the excitement to a level one would be forgiven for saying is already umped beyond what the real tournament’s final might not even dream of heralding come February 7. For a derby of this magnitude, there is a lot at stake in the game. Both teams have their eyes on the last four; as hosts, the last thing Amavubi will fathom is failing at the hands of their bitter rivals, yet DR Congo, the first CHAN champions when Confederation of African Football started the tournament in 2009, can’t afford to lose, especially to Rwandan side that defeated them 1-0 in a pre-tourney buildup. An Amavubi fan cheers for the national team at Amahoro National Stadium last week. For the fans, the mood is as euphoric as it is jittery. You could bet as much for the players and team officials. In Tuesday’s (tweet) on Amavubi Stars’ official Twitter handle, the national team warned the game is a sellout. #Amavubi fans, buy your tickets quickly! DRC game will be a sell-out! We want your full support at the Amahoro!” the tweet said. Amavubi head coach Johnny McKinstry told The New Times that the game against DR Congo is an “intense derby beyond football” and fans should show real support for the ‘wasps’ to maximise the home advantage. “DR Congo are one of the tournament’s favourites. We will have to be at our very best on Saturday to match them. I urge all Amavubi fans to buy their tickets early, we want to ensure the only colour we can see in the Amahoro is yellow to truly maximise home advantage,” McKinstry said. Leopard fans On the other side, Huye residents are good witnesses of how Congolese fans can support The Leopards. During their three group games at Huye stadium, there is no doubt they contributed a lot for their side to make it to quarter-finals and surely they understand they are needed now like never before, a fact that also frustrates head coach McKinstry. “In our friendly in Rubavu (on January 6), Congolese fans mobilised early and bought their tickets. They had over 70 percent of the stadium in blue, it was like we were playing away,” he said. Amavubi fans cheer for the national team at Amahoro National Stadium last week. Apart from thousands of Congolese fans that flock the country on match days, there are also thousands living in Rwanda who add the numbers. Together, they are expected to give back up to Leopards at Amahoro National Stadium, hoping to win the tournament for the second time, following the 2009 triumph in Ivory Coast. “It is clear that it is not easy to face hosts, that is a football reality, but we have been eliminated from quarter-finals in the last two editions and we can’t afford suffering the same fate. We are not afraid of Amavubi, our top priority right now is to qualify for semi-finals,” DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge said. Considering head-to-head, Amavubi have an upper hand over DR Congo. Amavubi won the last two meetings against the Leopards and will be looking to stretch the record to 3:0 while Congo will be seeking for sweat revenge. Amavubi fans cheer for the national team at Amahoro National Stadium last week. (Photos by Timothy Kisambira) Rwanda beat DR Congo 1-0 at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia courtesy of Saidi Abedi Makasi’s strike and recently defeated them by the same margin in CHAN buildup match at Umuganda stadium, thanks to skipper Jacques Tuyisenge for the lonely goal of the match. Due to the delight accompanying the derby and high demand, prices for the tickets for entrance have also been doubled in all seats of the stadium, the cheapest costs Rwf1,000 while VVIP ticket goes to as high as Rwf20.000. The arena will be open for entry at 10am and closed by 1:30pm. Yesterday afternoon, President Paul Kagame received Amavubi Stars led by head coach McKinstry, at Village Urugwiro and reminded them that going into the Saturday game, they will be carrying the country’s flag: “we are all behind you, the whole country is behind you.” “Chances of winning are higher when you go into a game believing in your ability to win, you should not count on luck to win. Begin by believing that winning is possible, that you are as capable as your opponent, then work hard to achieve it,” President Kagame told the team. See related story editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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CHAN: Fans on the edge as Amavubi squares up to DR Congo in fiery derby