Uzamukunda snubs call, Bayisenge in camp

TUNIS – Striker Elias Uzamukunda has snubbed a call to join the Amavubi Stars in Tunisia where the team is undergoing an 11-day training camp ahead of the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers.The former AS Kigali and APR striker, who plays for French second division side AS Cannes, turned down the national call without giving any explanations.Having received permission by AS Cannes manager Jean-Marc Pilorget to join the national team, Uzamukunda refused to honour the call and instead wants to join the team on May 28, five days before the Algeria clash.Amavubi head coach Milutin Sredojovic said yesterday, “We won’t have Uzamukunda with us for the training camp. I have great respect for him but I’m disappointed with his decision.”“With the existing good relationship between Richard Tardy (U-20 team coach) and his counterpart in AS Cannes, we sought permission for him to come on Monday and be with the team in Tunis, but it looks like he wants to play mind games with us, which I certainly can’t accept.“People who love their country will jump at the opportunity to play for their national team and I think he (Uzamukunda) is not getting the right advice,” Micho added.Uzamukunda is among six strikers summoned by Micho to for the upcoming busy month for the national team. The rest are Meddie Kagere (Police), Olivier Karekezi (APR), Sina Jerome (Rayon Sports), Dady Birori (Vita Club), Bokota Labama (Rayon Sports).Meanwhile, U-20 and Isonga FC skipper Emery Bayisenge has joined camp in Tunis after two weeks on trials with French Ligue 1 club Toulouse.The impressive stopper is one of six players from the junior side who were summoned by Serbian coach for the upcoming 2014 Brazil world cup qualifiers.Bayisenge has been a key figure for Isonga FC in the Primus National Football League and was instrumental in the home and away wins for the U-20 national team against Namibia in the Africa Youth Championship qualifiers.The Ferwafa academy product led Rwanda’s U-17 to the second place in the 2011 Africa Youth Championship finals played in Kigali last year before leading the same team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals held in Mexico.