Forgotten Hitimana cries out for Cecafa call

Former U-20 national football team captain Omar Hitimana has cried out to the Amavubi Stars technical team to include him in the national squad that will be heading for Kampala to take in the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup due to kick off at the end of this month. Atraco’s former skipper told Times Sport yesterday on phone from Kampala that he is in fine form to make an impact as Rwanda seeks its second Cecafa title. The Kampala City Council castigated the national team set up saying that it doesn’t favour Rwandan players playing within the region. Hitimana said, “I have been in fine form this season and ready to be part of the team but ever since I moved to Uganda, I have been never summoned back to the team and I don’t know why this happens considering my progress her in Kampala”. According to KCC coach George Nsimbe, Hitimana’s form and influence on the team has grown since his move from Express last season. Hitimana has been converted from a central defender to a defensive midfielder, a move that was convinced by Nsimbe. With Coach Tucak Branko losing some of his influential players to the U-20 team, Hitimana’s services to the Amavubi team would be beneficial in this debutant Cecafa tournament for the Croat. Hitimana who has gained vast experience having featured for two Ugandan sides Express and now KCC may be of much importance to Rwanda which will open its Cecafa title quest against arch-rivals Uganda Cranes on the New Year’s Day at Namboole stadium. Amavubi Stars, who knocked out Uganda Cranes at the semi-final stage last year, were drawn in the group A alongside Tanzania, Zanzibar and perennial whipping boys Somalia. The tournament gets underway with a group B game between Eritrea and Djibouti on December 31 at Bugembe Stadium, Jinja. This group that also has defending champions Sudan, Kenya and Burundi will be based outside the capital. Two groups of five teams will play preliminaries and the top two will automatically advance to the last four. Seven of the total 24 matches will be shown live by GTV, starting with the Uganda-Rwanda game. The Amavubi Stars under former coach Josip Kuze reached the final last year in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania but lost to Sudan 4-2 on penalties after full time had ended in a fascinating 2-2 draw. Ends

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Forgotten Hitimana cries out for Cecafa call