As Ferwafa crows take over coach’s role Yesterday Rwanda U-17 1-1 Burkina Faso U-17 It was a case of ifs after Rwanda’s U-17 football side was held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Burkina Faso hence wasting a great opportunity to qualify for their first continental championship. In an inspiring contest played yesterday in front of a full house at Amahoro national stadium, the home side despite needing to win 1-0 to qualify went behind to a powerful Sido Fadil header ten minutes before half time. But APR striker Ernest Kwizera, who had earlier wasted two one-on-one chances with the visiting keeper, netted the equalizer three minutes later to the take game into recess with the score at 1-1. In life, the best things are free but there was literary very little to cheer about in yesterday’s game for the home fans, who left the stadium bitterly disappointed, and they had every reason to. Kwizera also scored Rwanda’s goal in the 2-1 first leg defeat, and despite restoring parity in yesterday’s game to give Rwandans some hope, he was the day’s undisputed villain for his extravagant wastefulness. He had two wonderful opportunities to put the junior wasps ahead before Burkina Faso scored the goal they needed to be on the safe side but wasted both by shooting weakly direct at the keeper. First half substitute Christian Muhoza hit the post from close range minutes of coming on. Rayon Sports midfielder Jamal Mwiseneza, who like the rest of his teammates had a really bad day at the office, which was summed up when he blasted over the bar with only the keeper at his mercy. Yet it was Jean Claude Iranzi, who had Rwanda’s first and only meaningful shot on target at the start of the second period, which also was straight at the keeper. Unfortunately, the APR winger’s frustration got the better of him when he received a straight red card for an off the ball incidence to leave his 10 teammates with an uphill task against a well organized Burkina Faso side. The fans left the stadium visibly disappointed not with the missed opportunity to qualify for the African championship but with Michael Weiss team’s negative approach to the game. Crossing the line An obviously frustrating afternoon for the home fans was further compounded by the unfortunate interference in the coach’s work of two Ferwafa officials with the match in process. The federation’s vice president Veduste Kayiranga did the unthinkable when he confronted Weiss on the technical bench to advise him on what he’s paid to do! Ferwafa officials’ interference with the coach’s work is not a new phenomenon but to go at it with the coach in front of the entire public is unacceptable however unhappy you’re with the coach. Another official, Boniface Sabimana, a federation commissioner took it to another level by passing on tactical instructions to the players from where he was standing meters away from the technical bench! Ends
