The Ministry of Sports and Culture and the local football body, Ferwafa delivered a special reward to Amavubi players after defeating Mauritania in the opener of the 2010 Fifa/CAN qualifier last Saturday. The financial reward, which remains mystery, was given to players in appreciation for their opening day victory. According to close sources in Amavubi camp, the appreciation package was to instill more confidence in the players ahead of their next qualifiers away to Ethiopia on Sunday. Meanwhile, head coach Tucak Blanko was calm on Monday as he took his team through Monday morning training session at their Remera ground. The Croat spent that session working with his striking force and emphasizing the need to master the 3-4-3 formation ahead of Sunday’s game against the Walya Antelopes. However, injured Fritz Emeran Nkusi wants a first time line up but Blanko is not willing to offer the Greece-based defender a place even in the training session unless he is cleared fit. Nkusi, who is nursing a calf injury attained last week’s training session claims he is fit for training but team doctors are yet to confirm it. Rwanda is attempting to qualify for its first major tournament since appearing at the Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia in 2004, but Amavubi Stars must alleviate an unceasing failure to score away from home. Blanko will be seeking his second win in four attempts since taking over from Josip Kuze as Amavubi team head coach in April. “Nothing can deny a well disciplined and organized side from winning football matches. I have trust and confidence in my team and hope for positive results in our next games (Ethiopia away and Morocco at home),” Blanko said last week. Ends
