Tardy wants U-20 prepared for 2016 Rio Games

AFTER a disappointing exit from Africa Youth Championship qualifiers, junior wasps’ head coach Richard Tardy wants the team to be prepared effectively for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Leading 2-1 from the first leg, Rwanda went into the contest against Mali needing a draw to advance to the third qualifying round but three unanswered second half goals for the hosts ended the team’s hopes of featuring in next year’s finals tournament in Algeria. “We never utilised our chances and being the home team, Mali took their chances after profiting from some defensive errors on our side. But it was a good experience for the boys,” said the Frenchman.He noted, “It would be better if this team is kept together and prepared well for the next Olympic Games qualifiers. They are the next generation of players for the senior Amavubi team but I think more emphasis should be put on preparing them as the 2016 Olympics team”.Tardy was this year given new duties by the Ministry of Sports and Culture and Rwanda football body, Ferwafa, in the U-17 and U-20 teams. He was also named the technical director by Rwanda football federation last month.Tardy, who has been in Rwanda for almost two years now, qualified Rwanda to last year’s U-17 Fifa World Cup finals held in Mexico. His current contract runs until June 30, 2014.