McKinstry names 30-man squad for AFCON preps

Amavubi head coach, Johnny McKinstry, has included Rayon Sports defenders, Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Thierry Manzi on the 30-man provisional squad preparing for 2007 AFCON qualifier against Mozambique on June 4. It is the first time for the youthful defenders to get a call-up to the senior national team. 19-year-old Manzi, who was signed from Marine this season, has scored two goals against APR and Bugesera in the national league. Both defenders have been influential figures for the Blues and have played in almost all of the Nyanza based side’s league games. Six foreign based players led by Tanzania’s Young African Haruna Niyonzima, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza , (Azam, Tanzania), Gor Mahia duo of left back Abouba Sibomana , Jacques Tuyisenge, Salomon Nirisarike (Sint-Truiden, Belgium), and Elias Uzamukunda (Le Mans, France), are also included in the squad. But Swiss based striker Quentin Rushenguziminega who plies his trade with Lausanne Sport was left out of McKinstry’s provisional squad. Amavubi will first play an international friendly against Teranga Lions of Senegal on May 28 at Amahoro Stadium. “The game against Senegal will be a great test for the players, as they are currently one of the leading sides in Africa (ranked 4th). We wanted this type of game to ensure that the players would be well prepared a week later when we get down to serious business of the Mozambique qualifier. “Regardless of the result against Senegal-we will be looking for a level of performance that shows that everyone is ready for the challenge 7 days later.” “It is good to note that our forward players come into the camp in good form. This is always a positive sign; as we will be looking for them to continue in the yellow shirt of Rwanda what they have been producing for their club teams,” he said The coach further added that the majority of the group has played a lot of football recently, with many players having completed 10-12 games in the last 5/6 weeks. So we will need to monitor everyone closely to ensure the team that takes to the field against Mozambique is fit and ready to perform at the levels required of them. The team enters residential camp on Sunday at Golden Tulip Nyamata and will start training on Monday. All the professional players are expected to jet in the country mid next week. Amavubi are second in Group H with six points: The other teams in Group H are Ghana, Mozambique, and Mauritius. Provisional squad: Goalkeepers: Eric Ndayishimiye (Rayon Sports), Andre Mazimpaka (Mukura), Jean Claude Ndoli (APR),MarceNzarora (Police.) Defenders: Michel Rusheshangoga (APR), Fitina Omborenga (SC Kiyovu), Celestin Ndayishimiye (Mukura), Abouba Sibomana (Gor Mahia,Kenya), Emmanuel Manishimwe (Rayon Sports), Salomon Nirisarike (STVV, Belgium), Emery Bayisenge (APR), Abdul Rwatubyaye (APR), Soter Kayumba (AS Kigali) and Thierry Manzi (Rayon Sports). Midfielders: Djihad Bizimana (APR), Imran Nshimiyimana (Police), Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (Azam, Tanzania), Yannick Mukunzi (APR), Ali Niyonzima (Mukura), Innocent Habyarimana (Police), Patrick Sibomana (APR), Jean Claude Iranzi (APR), Hakizimana Muhajiri (Mukura), Dominique Savio Nshuti (Rayon Sports), Yusufu Habimana (Mukura), Haruna Niyonzima (Young Africans). Strikers: Danny Usengimana (Police), Elias Uzamukunda (Le Mans, France), Jacques Tuyisenge (GorMahia, Kenya) and Ernest Sugira (AS Kigali) editorial@newtimes.co.rw