Mashami to coach Junior Wasps

Former Isonga head coach Vincent Mashami will lead the Rwanda U20 national team in their tie against Uganda in the first round of the 2017 African Youth Championship qualifiers. The finals will take place in Zambia. According to the President of Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), Vincent Nzamwita, the federation has forwarded Mashami’s name to the Ministry of Sports and Culture as the proposed head coach for the Junior Wasps, he will be assisted by Gicumbi head coach Emmanuel Ruremesha, and AS Kigali goalkeepers coach Thomas Higiro. Junior Wasps will host Uganda in the first leg of the qualifier round phase that will be played from April 1-3 before travelling to Uganda for the return leg matches on April 22-24. “We have submitted the list of proposed technical staff to lead the Junior Wasps to the Ministry of Sports, and we are waiting for the confirmation so that they can start to work before the end of this week,” Nzamwita said. Amavubi Head coach, Johhny McKinstry will not work with the team as he will be preparing for AFCON qualifiers. The 32-year-old Mashami joined Amavubi in September on a two-year deal from APR, but in December, he was relieved of his duties with the national team. The senior national team will be preparing for the upcoming 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Mauritius. Johnny McKinstry’s team will play against Mauritius on the weekend of March 23-26 before both teams meet again four days later in Kigali. Amavubi will also host Mozambique on the weekend of June 3-5 before winding their qualifying campaign away to Ghana on September 2-4. In Group H, Rwanda beat Mozambique 1-0 in the first match on June 14, 2015 away in Maputo before losing against Ghana 1-0 in Kigali in September. Ghana led the group with six points, three ahead of second-placed Rwanda, and Mauritius, who lie in third place on goal difference while Mozambique are without a point. editorial@newtimes.co.rw