Micho to give young players a chance

CALABAR - After bowing out of the qualification for 2013 Africa Nations’ cup finals, Amavubi Stars head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic has promised to put much emphasis on young players for the remaining World Cup qualifiers which resumes next year.In an exclusively interview with Times Sport yesterday, Micho said, “It is disappointing to miss out on qualifying for Africa Nations cup finals, but we can take the positives from this experience.” He added, “After this, we will need to analyse the whole squad in order to see what to do for the future of the team.”“We need to look for young players who are eager to play for their country, players who are willing to do and give their best ahead of the next World Cup qualifier against Mali.“If we can have four to five players playing top quality professional football in Europe, it could make a very big difference,” admitted Micho.With Solomon Nirisarike, Imran Nshimiyimana, Tumaine Ntamuhanga, Emery Bayisenge and the experience of Haruna Niyonzima, Jean Claude Iranzi and keeper Jean Claude Ndoli, the Serbian has the backbone to build a strong Amavubi team.In the last three weeks, Micho and his technical staff have had the best possible opportunity to look at almost every player they need to try out, a period where Rwanda was engaged in two World Cup qualifiers against Algeria and Benin as well the Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria.Winless streakAfter Saturday’s defeat, Micho confessed to going through the longest winless streak in his coaching career, but was quick to play it down, claiming “this is simply a reality of football.” “All the friendly matches we have played are just investment to the future, we need to work very hard to put Amavubi to the level where our supporters are dreaming of.“We are in a transition period, and not winning is painful but this is what you go through when building a team for the future. This team will return to winning ways,” Micho stated.Amavubi have not won in their last six matches, losing four and drawing two, a record that has left Micho under immerse pressure for the first time since taking charge last October. Rwanda bowed out of the qualification campaign for 2013 Africa Nations’ cup finals in South Africa after losing to Nigeria 2-0 on Saturday in Calabar in the return leg of their first round qualifying tie.Ikechukwu Uche and Ahmed Musa goals either side of the break handed the Super Eagles the win and ticket to the final round of the qualifiers. Uche fired in from inside the box after Rwanda failed to deal properly with a corner kick, and Musa hooked in a volley from Uche Kalu’s knockdown.Amavubi only fashioned three good opportunities through striker Meddie Kagere, who forced a superb stop from Vincent Enyema, then saw two free headers come off the crossbar.The team return home from Nigeria this evening.

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Micho to give young players a chance