Opening day fear

Tucak says Algeria is toughest test for Amavubi Rwanda’s fixture schedule Rwanda v Algeria 28/3/2009Zambia v Rwanda 06/06/09 Egypt v Rwanda 20/6/2009Rwanda v Egypt 5/9/2009Algeria v Rwanda 10/10/09 Rwanda v Zambia 14/11/09 Amavubi Stars’ head coach Branko Tucak believes that the opening fixture against Algeria for the third round of the 2010 World/Africa qualifying campaign will be the toughest test for his team. Rwanda opens her campaign on March 28, 2009 with an awkward home tie against an improved Algerian side before traveling to Lusaka to play Zambia on June 6. Speaking to Times Sport recently, the Croat admitted that the opening fixture will be his team’s toughest test but added that he and his players are relishing the challenge ahead. “In this campaign, our first game against Algeria will be the biggest test not only for me but for whole team as well because the opening game is always the foundation for the remaining fixtures,” said Tucak. The media shy Croat, who is hoping to guide Rwanda either to her maiden World Cup and or second Nations Cup finals, isn’t terrified by any of his team’s superior opponents in group C. “Rwanda will be required to perform beyond their expectations in the next round, and it would take enough discipline, passion and commitment from everyone involved to be able to achieve what we all need,” he stressed. The Algerian fans are unsurprisingly keen for a return to those days when the Fennecs stunned West Germany in the FIFA World Cup finals in 1982, and despite their 22-year absence from world football’s showpiece event, with 1986 marking their last appearance, their national side look to be finding their feet again slowly. Algeria team has had 34 coaches since independence in 1962, however, and the much-anticipated renaissance is unlikely to happen without a little stability in the dugout. As for Rwanda and Tucak, next month’s Cecafa senior challenge cup scheduled for December 31 to January 13, 2009 in Kampala provides them with the ideal ground for preparation ahead of the opener against Algeria. Recently, Tucak’s team of home based played lost 1-0 to Togo in an international friendly played in Lome. Ends

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Opening day fear