2011 CHAN qualifier

1st leg (today) Tanzania vs Rwanda

SELLAS Tetteh bluntly told his players that qualifying for next year’s CHAN in Sudan is a must. The Amavubi Stars head coach made the remarks before the team’s departure to Dar es Salaam.

Amavubi and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars face off at Benjamin Mkapa national stadium this afternoon in the first leg of the 2011 CHAN final qualifying round and Tetteh hopes the team can get that all-important away goal.

While Tanzania already have a feel of the qualifiers following their 6-0 rout of Somalia in the previous round, it is Amavubi’s maiden test having secured a bye in the previous round against Eritrea.

Today’s game will also be Tetteh’s first major test since assuming the reins back in February. The Ghanaian won over Ferwafa’s confidence after leading Ghana to a historic FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt after beating Brazil in the final.

Despite the short preparations, Tetteh believes the team can get a result in Dar es Salaam.

"Qualification to next year’s CHAN finals in Sudan is a must,” he said.

Tanzania was the lone Central-East zone representative at the maiden tourney held in Cote d’Ivoire last year and Coach Marcio Maximo has challenged his charges to do the same next year.

The Brazilian coach however knows that Amavubi will be a hard nut to crack.

Last week, Maximo, who will have to do without his lead striker Mrisho Ngassa this afternoon, conceded that Rwanda would be no push overs. Ngassa is down with a fever which means that Mussa Hassan Mgosi who recently won the golden boot after netting 18 goals in the domestic league will lead the hosts’ attack.

The second leg is scheduled for June 5 in Kigali with the winner after both legs qualifying for the final.
CHAN is a competition reserved for players playing in their respective domestic leagues.

Amavubi Stars

Probable line-up:

Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Kalisa Mao, Mutesa Mafisango, Didier Kapet Kouin, Donatien Tuyizere, Jean Mugiraneza, Haruna Niyonzima, Jamal Mwiseneza, Jean Claude Iranzi, Roger Tchouassi and Emmanuel Sebanani.

Ends