Amavubi Stars set to benefit from MTN aid

2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier Group Eight fixtures September 6Mauritania v RwandaEthiopia v Morocco October 10Rwanda v EthiopiaMorocco v Mauritania RWANDA’S Amavubi Stars are set to benefit from MTN’s 2010 World/Africa Cup finals sponsorship package that will be planned soon. Mobile Telecommunication providers MTN Rwandacel confirmed the development mid this week, during a press conference held at Nyarutarama head offices to unveil the Frw20 million sponsorship package for this year’s Amahoro Cup. MTN Rwanda Chief Executive Officer Themba Khumalo revealed that MTN Ferwafa are in talks to about how former can help the Amavubi Stars in their 2010 World Cup and Africa Nations Cup qualifying campaign. “We are thinking about sponsoring the Amavubi Stars just like the way we did during the 2004 Tunis CAN finals but nothing has been reached upon because we are still in talks with Ferwafa. “I am confident that once the a deal of any kind is agreed upon, it will go a long way to helping Amavubi in their campaign to reach the world cup final in South Africa or Africa Nations Cup in Angola,” Khumalo said. MTN are the official sponsors of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, supported Amavubi Stars on its maiden appearance at the 2004 African Nations Cup finals held in Tunisia. MTN Rwandacel was the first to sponsor the 1999 Cecafa Challenge Cup which was held in Rwanda. Other than being an official sponsor of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, MTN is the title sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations. To be on the safe side, the Amavubi Stars must win away to Mauritania in Nouakchott on September 6 before hosting the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia on October 12. As part of ensuring a successfully campaign of winding up the second round of the qualification phase, the local football body, Ferwafa has confirmed that Amavubi Stars will camp in Nouakchott for a week in preparation for their crucial game. Rwanda lies second in group eight, level with Morocco on nine points but with an inferior goal difference of four against Morocco’s six. Twenty countries will qualify for the third round of the competition with the group winners in the 12 groups qualifying automatically and will be joined by the eight best runners-up. Ends