Amavubi need to play stronger opponents in friendly matches

Being a Rwandan, I’m an enthusiastic fan of the Amavubi Stars by default and always follow their progress from time to time. Recently, I looked at the national team players summoned for the friendly against Burundi and was impressed by coach Eric Nshimiyimana project that has focused on youth. I realised a gradual change coming up. Though he was not able to record victory in Bujumbura, a draw to the much improved Burundi was not so bad a result after all many had predicted doom for the youthful side, which played without the captain Haruna Niyonzima. Based on previous international friendly matches, the Amavubi Stars have more often played against smaller teams instead of going for better opponents. I agree that to fix an international friendly match, there are a lot of considerations especially social and economic aspects. However, the ultimate goal of the friendly game is to test or experiment the team’s level of performance, hence the need to test yourself against stronger teams. On revolutionary grounds, Amavubi stars should always target stronger opponents for friendly games as the way to improve on their standards. Stronger team’s especially giant African teams that are regular participants in the African cup of nations and the world cup should be targeted for international friendlies. Of course with such teams you lose heavily but there is always a lot to learn from them. Bigger teams easily expose your weaknesses and you use that to make improvements on your team. So next time Nshimiyimana, if he is still the man in charge, should ask his bosses to think beyond the Cecafa region for the next international friendly. I think defeat or win against bigger teams would show the Amavubi coach the true nature of his team and how far it can go in adapting to different styles of play. Amavubi need to adapt to new styles that will offer opponents a great challenge to overcome. In life, there are ups and downs, while failures and problems are unavoidable, but what matters is how you overcome or go through them. It is not good to remain at the same level for so long. With just one year at the helm as national team head coach, I do not want to label Nshimiyimana a failure. Instead, I admire his determination and courage to work under difficult conditions as he tries to get the best of the limited resources at his disposal. Like any concerned Rwandan, I am always proud of the national team’s success at any level but people should be enlightened about the essence of sports development and success especially when it comes to the international level. For Rwandan football to improve to a level satisfactory to all of us, every Rwandan needs to play a part. We need to experiment and come with new conclusions. This is how we shall be able to overcome historical facts, facts that have not made us return to the African Nations Cup and facts that will not help us qualify for the World Cup any time soon.