Rwanda National team head coach Johnathan McKinstry has named a 30-man team which will start preparations on Sunday ahead of the 2017 Africa Nations’ Cup qualifier against Mozambique slated for June 4 at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
Before Rwanda takes on Mozambique in a must-win encounter, Amavubi will take the Teranga Lions of Senegal in an international friendly match due on May 28 at Amahoro Stadium.
New faces in the squad include Rayon Sports pair of Emmanuel Imanishimwe and Thiery Manzi, midfielder Niyonzima Ali from Mukura VS and APR Fc’s Patrick Sibomana.
Six foreign-based players led by skipper Haruna Niyonzima (Yanga, Tanzania), Mugiraneza Jean Baptista (Azam, Tanzania), Gor Mahia duo of left back Abouba Sibomana and striker Jacques Tuyisenge, Salomon Nirisarike (Sint-Truiden, Belgium) and Elias Uzamukunda (Le Mans, France have been summoned. The major omission is Swiss-based Quentin Rushenguziminega who features for Lausanne Sport.
Coach McKinstry said that he is bringing players together a little bit earlier than the normal FIFA week for additional preparation and a friendly match against Senegal.
“The game against Senegal will be a great test for the players, as they are currently one of the leading sides in Africa (ranked 4th). We wanted this type of game to ensure that the players would be well prepared a week later when we get down to the serious business of the Mozambique qualifier, and regardless of the result against Senegal– we will be looking for a level of performance that shows everyone is ready for the challenge that awaits 7 days later,” McKinstry said.
“In terms of the make-up of the squad, I am pleased to welcome into the group a number of players who have shown good form in the league over recent months such as Rayon Sports duo of Thierry Manzi and Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Ali Nyonzima (Rayon Sports) and Patrick Sibomana (APR) – all of who have been competing well for their clubs recently,” McKinstry added.
“In addition to this it is good to note that our forward players come into the camp in good form and scoring goals. This is always a positive sign; as we will be looking for them to continue in the yellow shirt of Rwanda what they have been producing for their club teams,”
“In having said all of that, the training camp will be as much about managing energy levels of the players as anything else. The majority of the group has played a lot of football recently, with many players having completed 10 – 12 games in the last 5/6 weeks. So we will need to monitor everyone closely to ensure the team that takes to the field against Mozambique is fit and ready to perform at the levels required of them,” he said.
Supporters
He further added, “I would once again encourage all supporters to come out in their numbers for both the friendly game with Senegal, and most importantly the AFCON qualifier against Mozambique and help to play your part as the ‘12th man’, and ensure that we get the result we are all looking for,”
The team joins residential camp on Sunday at Golden Tulip Nyamata with training scheduled to kick-off on Monday with a light session of players who will have featured in Saturday’s Azam Rwanda Premier League.
The professional players are expected to jet in the country mid next week.
Rwanda currently sit second in Group H with six points, same number of points shy of Ghana, whom they face in the ultimate fixture of the qualifiers in September.
Group H Afcon Qualifier
June 4
Rwanda vs Mozambique
Friendly match
May 28
Rwanda vs Senegal
Rwanda Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ndayishimiye Eric (Rayon Sports), Mazimpaka Andre (Mukura), Ndoli Jean Claude (APR), Nzarora Marcel (Police).
Defenders: Rusheshangoga Michel (APR), Omborenga Fitina (SC Kiyovu), Ndayishimiye Celestin (Mukura), Sibomana Abouba (Gor Mahia,Kenya), Imanishimwe Emmanuel (Rayon Sports), Nirisrike Salomon (STVV, Belgium), Bayisenge Emery (APR), Rwatubyaye Abdul (APR), Kayumba Soter (AS Kigali) and Manzi Thierry (Rayon Sports).
Midfielders: Bizimana Djihad (APR), Nshimiyimana Imran (Police), Mugiraneza Jean Baptiste (Azam, Tanzania), Mukunzi Yannick (APR), Niyonzima Ali (Mukura), Habyarimana Innocent (Police), Sibomana Patrick (APR), Iranzi Jean Claude (APR), Hakizimana Muhadjiri (Mukura), Nshuti Dominique Savio (Rayon Sports), Habimana Yussufu (Mukura), Niyonzima Haruna (Young Africans).
Strikers: Usengimana Danny (Police), Uzumakunda Elias (Le Mans, France), Tuyisenge Jacques (Gor Mahia, Kenya) and Sugira Ernest (Vita Club, DRC).
Source: Ferwafa.rw
