Nshimiyimana eyes Tz scalp

TodaySemi-final Tanzania vs Rwanda 4pm SS3 YesterdayUganda 2-1 Zanzibar NAIROBI - Amavubi Stars interim coach Eric Nshimiyimana has urged his player to take the game to Tanzania from the onset when the two teams meet in the second semi-final of the 2009 Cecafa Orange Senior Challenge Cup this afternoon at Nyayo national stadium in Nairobi. Rwanda booked their place in the last four after a dominant 4-1 win over Cosafa champions Zimbabwe Tuesday evening while Tanzania secured a 4-0 win over minnows Eritrea earlier in the day. The Kilimanjaro Stars have won the last two most recent encounters with Amavubi and are the most experienced of the two teams but that’s a record Rwanda’s acting head coach wants to change. “Tanzania is an experienced team, they have been together for a long time but the way they are playing at this tournament, I am confident we can beat them,” the former Rwandan international told Time Sport after taking his players through their paces yesterday morning. When a team is on a winning streak, the coach doesn’t need too much in terms of motivational speeches because ideally, the players know what is expected of them but Nshimiyimana isn’t leaving anything for guessing. He said, “I have told the players to avoid complacency. Despite winning all our matches until this stage, we haven’t won anything yet (title).” “We need to take the game to them (Tanzania) from the start but at the same time keep our discipline at the back (defence). “Our record against Tanzania is not the best and we need to make sure we change that. I am sure it won’t be easy but we intend to give it our best shot, I know these players can do it and I don’t see why we shouldn’t reach the final.” The 39-year-old former Amavubi captain only took over as acting coach following the sacking of his former boss Branko Tucak after a disastrous 2010 World/African Cup qualifying campaign and if the job he has so far done is a statement of intent, then, he hasn’t done himself any harm. As Nshimiyimana plans for Tanzania’s downfall, his counterpart, the Brazilian Marcio Maximo will also have other ideas. “It’s going to be a tough game against a well-organized Rwanda side but we know what to do. We have a plan to stop them (Rwanda) and if it works for us, then we shall be ok,” Maximo said yesterday. Part of his strategy will be to put the youthful Amavubi team under a lot of pressure while employing what he called a “physical” approach. Nshimiyimana will only make one change to the team that thrashed Zimbabwe 4-1. Defender Didier Kapet returns after serving his one much suspension, which means Amin Mwizerwa, drops to the bench. Meanwhile, in yesterday’s first semi-final, Uganda edged Zanzibar 2-1 to keep their hopes of defending the regional trophy alive. Rwanda’s starting team: JC Ndoli, Mao Kalisa, Donattene Tuyizere, Didier Kapet, Amaan Uwirimana, Patrick Mafisango, JB Mugiraneza, Haruna Niyonzima, Djamar Mwiseneza, Tumaine Ndamuhanga, Yussuf Ndashimye. Ends

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Nshimiyimana eyes Tz scalp