Three Belgium based pros join Amavubi camp

Group C

Mar 28: Rwanda v  Algeria
Mar 29: Egypt     v  Zambia

National football team’s coach Branko Tucak has been given a further boost of three professional players as he prepares his team ahead of the 2010 World/Africa Nations’ Cup qualifier against Algeria due on Saturday at Amahoro stadium.

The trio includes Ivorian born midfielder Jules Cesar Oulai who plays for Belgian third division A club Union Saint-Gilloise, DR Congo born pair of Jean Paul Lutula(forward), and Jean Paul Kielo Lezi (midfielder) who ply their trade with Belgian second division club FC Brussels.

They arrived in Kigali on Tuesday night aboard SN Brussels airplane accompanied by former skipper Desire Mbonabucya who has now turned a Fifa players’ agent.

Belgium-based former national team captain Desire Mbonabucya made a brief return to the national team in 2006 after falling out with the leaders of Ferwafa, the country’s football federation.

The 35-year-old striker had retired from the team in 2004. With a new administration in charge, Mbonabucya decided to return to the national team after talks with the FA president Brigadier General Jean Bosco Kazura.

Coach Tucak Branko took the trio through the drills yesterday morning at Amahoro stadium with two glovesmen Emery Mvuyekure (Electrogaz) and Patrick Rutayisire (AS Kigali) while the rest of the team members trained at Kicukiro artificial turf pitch.

The team trained behind closed doors in the afternoon session. According to an insider, the Croat was impressed with the trio’s display.

They are among 8 foreign-based players who have confirmed their availability for the 2010 qualifier against Algeria on Saturday.

Others include; Hamad Ndikumana (AC Omonio) Jimmy Mulisa (Beveren) and Saddou Boubakary (Al-Ahly Tripoli), skipper Olivier Karekezi (Ham Kam) and club-less Said Abedi Makasi.

Rwanda is drawn alongside Algeria, Egypt and Zambia in Group C of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Having failed to qualify for the last two Nations Cup finals, Rwanda must win at least home matches to be regarded favorites to qualify for the Africa Nations Cup final due in Angola. Only the top three finishers in Group C will head to Angola 2010 CAN finals.

While the first three places of each group will qualify to the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, winners of each group will directly qualify to the same year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Ends