AMAVUBI skipper Haruna Niyonzima has challenged Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) to raise the standards of the local league to help the national team up its performance.The Young Africans midfielder said last week that for the national team to start getting good results, Ferwafa needed to make the league more competitive.He was speaking in the aftermath of the Amavubi Stars disqualification from this year’s regional Cecafa championships, which was eventually won by hosts Kenya on Friday."We need to raise the level of local football because it will be a catalyst for the national team to stage impressive performances,” he said.But he also urged patience and commitment from all stakeholders. "We have a good but young team which needs more time and exposure to be able to exhibit its full potential. It is clear that it will take time to start getting the desired results but we need to work hard and ride on the strength of the league.”"Players also need to up their work ethic, work harder for the good of the national team. We need to rediscover our winning ways,” he said.He said the future of Rwandan football lie in youth football. Haruna has since returned to Tanzania.Amavubi were knocked out by eventual winners Kenya after a 1-0 defeat in the quarter final. But they had proceeded to the knock-out stage after back-to-back defeats to record-holders Uganda and Sudan. Rwanda qualified as one of the best losers thanks to their 1-0 victory over Eritrea.The exit extended Rwanda’s Cecafa trophy drought to 14 years having last won the regional title in 1999.