ON THE SPOT: 2010 couldn’t end sooner, but will 2011 be better?

Those who can’t handle the madness need not apply - or at least that could be the job advert if Sellas Tetteh decided to stick with his youth policy. The Ghanaian youth world cup winner has only been in the job less than a year but already it feels like it’s been a decade since taking the reins at Amavubi Stars. During his reign, there were a few things which worried me about Amavubi’s defeat away in Ivory Coast and at home to Benin in their first two 2012 Nations Cup qualifying campaign, and I’m not even talking about the result because that was, ultimately, due to the things that worry me! Against the Elephants of Ivory Coast, it was excusable to lose given the gap between the two teams, but against Benin, there was an air of arrogance and complacency about Amavubi players at Amahoro stadium. There were plenty of players walking around with their chests puffed out ahead of the Benin game with that unique, swagger that very many footballers (professionals and wannabes) have, but there was nothing to back it up as the West Africans took all three points, ultimately denting deeper Rwanda’s chances of being on the plane to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. It was, and I’ve not had to say this about this group of players before, all swagger over substance. It was, as Sellas Tetteh conceded a massive reality check not only for himself and his players but also for the fans, whose expectations are way higher than the capability of the team itself. For me, Amavubi went into the home game with Benin thinking like a big team. They behaved like they always did in all home games, expecting to get something from a game rather than concentrating on how to get it. They seemed to forget the things that at one time in the last couple of years have served the team in some bits, which is hardwork, honesty and endeavour. They did not look like a team, they looked like a group of individuals, and with that defeat arose doubts over the ability of the current crop of players and but most importantly their coach. Tetteh wasn’t joking of course when he preached his policy of wanting to work with mostly the home based player other than relying on the professionals most if not all, are well and truly even below average to say the least. Amavubi players thought they would be too good for Benin and they thought they were good enough to get something out of the game because, by and large, that is what they have seemed to get away with in home matches. Those two defeats coupled with the team’s disappointments in the Cecafa Senior Challenge cup, and the lack of any visible improvement, have made life a bitch for Tetteh, who arrived here with so much pomp after guiding his country’s U-20 side to the Fifa World Cup title. As we start a new year, yet again, there will be so much expectations from not only the Amavubi but also across the entire face of Rwanda’s sport, and unlike 2010, which came and went, leaving nothing behind for us, lets hope 2011 brings with it a change in fortune. Can anyone stop APR in 2011? If you’re not an APR fan, you would real like to see them get some reasonable competition for their dominance of local football, each year they become a lot better than their rivals and the gap is growing even bigger, if this season’s form is anything to go by. The balance of power is very much in APR’s hands, which is of no fault of theirs—but rather the uselessness of their rivals, who don’t seem to have clear plans not just to stop APR’s tight grip on Rwandan football but at least to give them meaningful competition. Atraco appeared to have made life a bit difficult for the army side but because of lack of proper planning, they fell off the track less than five full years of existence—it’s a shame for Rwandan football. Maybe now that Rayon Sports have a new business plan under the ownership of Albert Rudatsimburwa, we hope they can be able to do something about APR’s dominance in 2011. However, to do that, it will take more than just pumping in loads of money (if it’s there in the first place). Rudatsimburwa, if he’s coming into the country’s most supported club with their best interest at heart, then he will have his hands full just to put this club on the same footing as APR, let alone overtaking them. With Kiyovu, you don’t know what to expect from them even with the best coach in country in charge—in any case, this was tipped to their best bet to have a shot at the league title but, being the Kiyovu that we all know, they can’t stop shooting themselves in the foot. Their players and coaching staff have gone months without pay, just the other time, Jean Marie Ntagwabira was threatening to resign if he didn’t get his arrears paid! How long will he take this before running away? Happy New Year, may 2011 bring better fortunes for Rwanda’s sport because 2010 was simply ordinary in my eyes. What about you? I would like to from you. nku78@yahoo.com