Amavubi coach calls for patience

National team head coach Eric Nshimiyimana has urged fans to be patient as he builds a team which can consistently compete at the highest level in the future.Rwanda lost 0-1 against Algeria on Sunday; their third defeat in five 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers but Nshimiyimana believes more is yet to come from his youthful team.Midfielder Saphir Taider, who plays for Serie A club Bologna, netted the lone goal of the game in the 50th minute to make sure Algeria tops the Group H with 12 points, four points ahead of second-placed Mali, who were held to a 2-2 draw by third-placed Benin in Bamako. Nshimiyimana says it is too early to judge the young players because they still have a lot to learn and the future looks bright. It was Nshimiyimana’s second game in charge since replacing Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, who was sacked after the home defeat to Mali in March. The Serb, now in charge of Uganda Cranes, was in the crowd on Sunday, a day after his team beat Angola 2-1 in Group K in Kampala, one week after their 1-0 win over Liberia. In his first match, Rwanda held Mali to a 1-all draw last weekend in Bamako. “We need to give them time, it is only through playing many games together that they will achieve better results and gain experience,” said the former APR and Amavubi Stars skipper. He added, “We know the new players can make the difference, so we just need to give them a chance to settle in, assist them such that they can get the spirit of challenging rival teams at the highest level.” Rwanda, who are bottom of the group with just two points from a possible 15, will play their final qualifying match away to Benin on September 6 in Porto Novo.

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Amavubi coach calls for patience