Cricket: Rubagumya confident on World Cup qualification
Friday, October 15, 2021

The national cricket team captain Clinton Rubagumya has said that the only threat that could thwart their chances of qualifying to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers will be none but themselves.

Rubagumya said this during a presser on Friday, October 15, before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Group A Qualifier kicks off in Kigali on Saturday, October 16.

"We are ready for the qualifiers and the target is simple: to qualify no matter what. I think our only threat is ourselves. If we deliver to our highest standards we shall win against every team we are going to face,” Rubagumya said.

Rwanda open their qualifying campaign on Saturday, October 26 against Ghana.

Rubagumya, however, does not expect similar results for the hosts who he believes had enough time to learn from their mistakes during the friendly series against Ghana recently.

"The last time they were here, no one believed we would win a single game against them. But we instead regret that they finished the series ended ahead of us and I think it’s an opportunity for us this time round to show them the better side we have become,” he said.

Uganda and Namibia go into the tournament as the favorites to end top of Group A in the Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifiers but Rubagumy fired a warning to the duo and the rest of the opponents that Rwanda can’t be written off despite being seen by many as underdogs.

"Saying that we are not favourites does not scare me. We will give our all and I have confidence that we will win. We will do whatever it takes to qualify,” he said.