ATRACO vice president Issa Ngeze has rubbished claims by coach Sam Timbe that the team failed to progress to the second round of the Orange Confederation Cup because of an under-strength and inexperienced side.

The Rwandan side failed to capitalize on their 2-0 first leg win as El-Amal scored two first half goals to send the contest into penalty shoot-outs.

The taxi-men side eventually packed their bags after losing out 10-11 prompting Timbe to blame the team’s hasty exit on a weak and inexperienced side following departures of seven first team players in Johnson Bagoole, Jean Shyaka, Alou Gaseruka, Joseph Kabagambe, Jean Luc Ndayishimiye a.k.a Bakame, Peter Kagabo and Charles Kawuma.

However Ngeze argues that Timbe and his coaching staff should take full responsibility for the team’s early elimination.

"It is totally wrong for the coach to insinuate that we lost because of the players that left last season,” Ngeze argued before adding, "We brought in new players to replace them.”

"The coaches were responsible for the loss, because at half time, the tie was goalless, meaning we still had the upper hand but they (coaches) refused to reinforce the midfield and it was overrun in the second half resulting into both goals,” Ngeze continued.

Despite the lapse, Ngeze affirmed that Timbe’s job is very secure.

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