Battle for pride

2014 World Cup qualifier June 9, Group HMali vs RwandaBenin vs Algeria Amavubi Stars board a Mali-bound flight this afternoon ahead of Sunday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier return leg against the West Africans. Twenty-two players and several officials are supposed to take the flight with a stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The tie will be played at Bamako National Stadium, while Benin and Algeria, the other two teams in Group H play each other. Amavubi interim head coach Eric Nshimiyimana, buoyed by the late arrival of striker and skipper Olivier Karekezi, is adamant his troops are in right shape to snatch a decent result against Mali. “We know we have nothing to fight for in terms of qualification campaign but we still have our pride to play for. Besides, we want to build a good team for the future, a team which will be able to feature in the CHAN qualifiers next month and improve in other future intentional competitions,” Nshimiyimana said of his first competitive game since becoming the interim head coach in April – yet again. “Mali are stronger and have 90 per cent chances of winning the qualifier. We will be aiming for any kind of good result as we use the platform to reach the level and ability of our current crop of players need,” added Nshimiyimana, who has twice secured away wins as an interim coach in the past. In 2009, he was made interim coach after Branko Tucak’s contract was terminated following the team’s dismal performances in the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He helped Amavubi reach the final of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2011, Nshimiyimana was again given the interim coaching role when Ghanaian Sellas Tetteh resigned after a run of disappointing results that included a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Ivory Coast. He went on to help Rwanda snatch a 1-0 win over Benin in the last Africa Nations’ Cup qualifying match. The team departs without Mbuyu Twite who turned down Amavubi call-up and instead returned back to his native DR Congo after Tanzania’s this year’s Vodacom League. Players who were dropped include; goalkeepers Gerard Bikorimana [Rayon Sports] and Steven Ntalibi [Isonga], as well as Tumaine Ntamuhanga [APR] and Hassan Gasozera [AS Muhanga] In March, Amavubi blew up any chances of qualifying to the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign following a 2-1 loss to the Eagles of Mali in Kigali. That loss, coupled with an earlier defeat to Algeria and a draw against Benin, means that Rwanda is out of the running for Brazil 2014. This run of poor results saw the Rwanda Football Association terminate the services of Serbian tactician Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic in April, seven months ahead of the end of his contract. Micho’s sacking saw Nshimiyimana bounce back as Amavubi interim coach for the third time. Mali’s victory in Kigali put them in second position but with equal points (six) as Algeria, the leaders of Group H. Rwanda lie bottom of the standings with one point with three matches remaining. The matches include two away games against Mali and Benin and a home tie against Algeria. Traveling squad: Jean Claude Ndoli, Evariste Mutuyimana, Salomon Nirisarike, Emery Bayisenge, Jean Bosco Ngaboyisibo, Abouba Sibomana , Faustin Usengimana, Michel Rusheshangoga, Ismail Nshutiyamagara, Fabrice Twagizimana, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Jean Claude Iranzi, Mouhamed Mushimiyimana, Andrew Buteera, Haruna Niyonzima, Patrick Sibomana, Aphrodis Hategekimana, Olivier ‘Fils’ Karekezi, Elias Uzamukunda, Meddie Kagere, Peter Kagabo and Michel Ndahinduka.