Tomislav and his players owe President a win

It’s not very common to see a President of a country show his support for his country’s national football team by giving players some football tips in the middle of the playing field. When it happens, it does so not by coincidence but for a purpose, which purpose makes it even rarer and more significant as far lifting the players’ morale, confidence and the inspiration to die for the cause is concerned. So, when President Paul Kagame walked to the field shortly after Wednesday’s Group A match between Rwanda and Cameroon for a pep talk with the Rwandan team, everyone inside Amahoro stadium and millions watching on television could not believe their eyes. It was one of those rare moments, one which is bound to add a spring or two into the players, the technical staff as well as the entire nation for the reminder of the African Youth Championship but above all, it adds value to the competition. The President spent about three and half minutes talking to the Rwandan players in the field centre circle after which he also spoke to the Cameroon players who were standing a few yards away. As he left the field, he waved to the cheering crowd, which was by then chanting the famous “Mzee wacu, Mzee wacu…… slogan. The chanting only ended after he was out of sight. The President’s gesture was an act of sheer patriotism and passion for sports particularly the beautiful game and it must have left many, especially the visiting delegation wondering whether what they was seeing was real. Afterwards, curious journalists asked Rwanda’s team captain Haruna Niyonzima during the post match press conference, what the President said to them. Niyonzima revealed how the President gave them a word of encouragement, hailed them for their second half performance (against Cameroon) but also cautioned them against committing unnecessary mistakes if they are to go further in the competition. It was the President’s first appearance since the 16th African Youth Championship; Rwanda 2009 got underway last Sunday, January 18, a tournament being staged on Rwandan soil for the first time and one into which his government has invested an estimated $4million. With such words of encouragement from the country’s most powerful man to a team which is on course for a place in the semifinal of a tournament in which they are taking part for the first time, the players can’t ask for better incentive ahead of the do or break last group fixture against Ghana on Saturday. The two teams are level on points (four), after a win and a draw from their first two games but Ghanaians top Group A following a superior goal difference of two against Rwanda’s one. Cameroon who have managed two points from their opening two games after back to back draws against Ghana and Rwanda are in third place while Mali are bottom without a point after two successive defeats against Rwanda and Ghana. So when your President gives you a pep talk in the field centre circle after a deserved draw against Cameroon and ahead of a big clash with the group leader and one of the tournament favourites Ghana, what do you do? Do you lie down and get a beating or you die for the cause? Obradovic Tomislav and his players owe the President a win for his rare gesture, which will surely be talked about by the millions of Rwandans and others Africans across the continent. Who saw that coming? Ends

Lifestyle

Tomislav and his players owe President a win