We are prepared to win, says Mashami

Tomorrow CAF U-23 Championship/Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier Uganda U-23 vs Rwanda U-23 Rwanda assistant coach Vincent Mashami has said that the U-23 side is prepared to correct their mistakes from the first leg last Saturday in Kigali when they face Uganda tomorrow in the CAF U-23 Championship/Rio 2016 Olympic second qualifier at the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium. Rwanda lost to the Uganda Kobs 2-1 in a self-destructive regrettable performance infront of home fans but Mashami believes that his players have the ability to overturn the deficit and go on to qualify to the next round. “We know what we came here [Kampala] to do. We also know that we have an uphill task that is not easy but we are ready for the challenge ahead,” said Mashami in an exclusive interview with Times Sport yesterday on arrival in Kampala. Mashami who is standing in for head coach Johnny McKinstry who travelled to Europe to pursue his UEFA Pro License explained that, “We have hope that we can overturn the first leg result. When I look back at the first leg game, even if we lost, we created several goal scoring chances but we were unable to make them count even though we scored one.” He further explained that, “When you look at the goals we conceded, they were down to our mistakes. So we gifted them with those two goals because you honestly cannot say the Ugandan team worked hard to score them. Of course games are never the same but we are prepared to do everything to win this game and qualify for the next round.” The team will train at Nakivubo this afternoon at 4pm (East African Time) with players like captain Emery Bayisenge, right back Michel Rusheshangoga, central defender Faustin Usengimana and holding midfielder Robert Ndatimana returning to Nakivubo, three years after their remarkable 2-0 win over the Uganda Hippos (U-20) in 2012. The winner of tomorrow’s tie will meet Egypt in the last round of qualification for the CAF U-23 Championship which will attract eight teams in Dakar, Senegal from November 28-December 12. The top three sides will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Rwanda U-23 squad Marcel Nzarora, Gahunga Habarurema, Michel Rusheshangoga, Fitina Ombolenga, Emery Bayisenge (C), Abdul Rwatubyaye, Faustin Usengimana, Celestin Ndayishimiye, Djihad Bizimana, Yannick Mukunzi, Robert Ndatimana, Kevin Muhire, Savio Nshuti Dominique, Bonfils Kabanda, Andrew Buteera, Isaie Songa, Bienvenue Mugenzi, Dominique Antoine Ndayishimiye. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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We are prepared to win, says Mashami