Amavubi can make it

Dear editor, Last Saturday’s Amavubi victory over Mauritania was not only enough to earn us the badly needed three points from the opener of the 2010 CAN/World Cup qualifiers, but was also a demonstration to Rwandans that the current side has all it takes to go all the way. The Amavubi Stars may not have been at their peak during that game due to the fact that the players had not had enough time to train together. Besides, the national coach, Tucak Blanko, was just days into his new role and therefore unfamiliar with most of the players and their abilities. But if the drills that have been going on at their squad’s training grounds in Remera is anything to go by, then there are 100% chances for the team to, at the end of this campaign, be at the top of the table. Already, the latest Fifa rankings show that we have the potential to trounce Ethiopians home and away, or at least a win and a draw. As for Mauritania, the remaining job looks even much easier for Blanko boys, boosted by their inspirational skipper Olivier Karekezi and the return of the legendary defence king Katauti. With Morrocco, the strongest opponents in our group, I am confident the current crop of Amavubi players can repeat the team’s exploits of 2004 when we defied all odds and qualified for CAN finals at the expense of big names such as Ghana, which is after all better than Morrocco in football. The renewed morale among the fans is also something that could prove a point to the national team’s success. If only we could have a few of us travel with the team to away games, beginning with this Sunday’s showdown with Ethiopia. Go boys, go for the glory. Rwamagana

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Amavubi can make it