‘United we stand’

Amavubi Stars captain Olivier Karekezi has expressed his discontent with Ferwafa’s failure to invite fellow professionals to play in the Nations’ Cup qualifiers.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Amavubi Stars captain Olivier Karekezi has expressed his discontent with Ferwafa’s failure to invite fellow professionals to play in the Nations’ Cup qualifiers.

"I know we can be a big and strong team if all professional players are present. Of course not all can take part in the team but their presence can also lift the morale of local based players,” said the soft spoken midfielder.

He added, "I can’t find a single reason why they can’t be recalled back to boost team.

The fact is that all I have tried to contact do have interest in playing for their country but I don’t know why Ferwafa ignores them.”

The Swedish based star with IF Helsingborg took the opportunity to urge all sports administrators not only in football but in all other fields to find ways of building stronger national teams.  

Karekezi was Rwanda’s top scorer with three goals in the just concluded Nations’ Cup qualifiers.

The former APR star scored five goals for Helsingborg in the Swedish premier division and two in the Uefa Cup qualifiers.

Some of the on-form players who have featured for Amavubi Stars’ team that are currently not even thought about include; Jimmy Mulisa who plays for FC Hamme in Belgium, Henry Munyaneza who plays fro Standard de Liege in Belgium and Hamad Ndikumana who plays for Anorthosis in Turkey.

"While in Europe I’m always in touch with Mulisa and Katauti [Ndikumana] and they are willing and ready to come and play for the national team.”

He wondered why Mulisa was not invited, "Mulisa wanted to come and play against Liberia but the federation did not send him the air ticket and I don’t know why.”

As for Ndikumana, he said, "Despite the fact that he has had some misunderstanding with the federation but he’s doing okay with his club, they are playing in Uefa Cup.”

Karekezi urged Ferwafa to forget about their differences with any players and invite them to play for their country in the forthcoming World Cup and Nations Cup 2010 in South Africa and Angola respectively.

Ends