U19 depart for Youth World Championships

The U19 national team flew out to Turkey Monday night where they will play a number of friendly matches ahead of the upcoming Youth World Championships to be played from 27 June to 7 July in Mexico.According to officials, the team is expected to spend two weeks in Turkey before proceeding to Mexico on June 25. The World Championships will be staged in two cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. Egypt, Rwanda, Tunisia and Algeria will represent Africa in the men’s category. “We’re ready for the championships. We know it is going to be a very tough competition especially that we are only making our debut, but we started our preparation early enough and the players are in good spirits, so I hope we will do a good job,” head coach Jean Marie Nsengiyumva told Times Sport.He added, “It’s going to be a tough competition but I have been preparing this team for long time and I hope the boys will be up for the challenge.” Rwanda will play against France, Russia, Iran and Finland in Pool C at the High Performance Centre in Tijuana. In Pool A, Mexico, China, Belgium, Tunisia and Poland at the High Performance Centre in Tijuana, while Argentina Japan, Chile, Turkey and Cuba will compete in Pool B at the State Auditorium in Mexicali.Pool D matches will be played in Mexicali with top-seeded Brazil and United States being joined by Egypt, South Korea and Algeria.Nsengiyumva is assisted by Jean Paul Mana on Rwanda’s maiden World Cup appearance after getting the ticket in Algeria in January and team doctor is Charles NkurunzizaTeam Rwanda;Jean Paul Ndacyayisenga, Sylvestre Ndayisabye, Samuel ‘Tyson’ Niyogisubizo, Robert Nshimiyimana, Patrick Ruzindana, Diogène Mukotanyi, Jacques Iradukunda, Jean Luc Rutayisire, Bosco Hishamunda, Elias Ndagano, Oreste Muhirwa Gabo and Eugène Nkotanyi.Officials: Team Manager, Gertrude Kubwimana and Providence Mukamurenzi, head of delegation.

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U19 depart for Youth World Championships