Amavubi Stars off to Mauritania

2010 FIFA/CAN Qualifier September 6Mauritania v Rwanda Group 8Team MP W D L PtsMorocco 4 3 0 1 9Rwanda 4 3 0 1 9Ethiopia 4 2 0 2 6Mauritania 4 0 0 4 0 RWANDA’S Amavubi Stars depart for Mauritania ahead of their crucial 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifying fixture set for September 6 in Nouakchott. The Amavubi squad departs for Nouakchott this afternoon aboard Ethiopian airlines, connecting from Addis Ababa to Ivory Coast. They’re expected to arriving in the West African country afternoon. The traveling team is comprised of 14 local players while the four professional players will join the team in Nouakchott on Wednesday. However, coach Branko Tucak had named only 13 players by press time with the 14th player expected to be named after this morning training session. According to the Ferwafa spokesman Jean Butoyi, Blanko listed the professional players who will join the team in Nouakchott as Olivier Karekezi (Ham Kam), Hamad Ndikumana (Omonio), Bobo Bola (Laundkronabois) and Henry Munyaneza (K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot). The fifth professional, Saidi Abedi Makasi who plays for Israel side Hapoel has been training with the home based players for the last one week. The surprise face on the squad is Abdul Uwimana whose last appearance for Amavubi Stars was during the 2006 CAN qualifiers. The pint-sized Rayon Sports midfielder escaped from the Amavubi team’s training stint in Germany to go searching for a professional career in Belgium and after an unsuccessful adventure that last a year in Brussels; he returned home at the start of the year and rejoined his club. Amavubi will battle Mauritania without suspended Elias Ntaganda, Mbuyu Twite and Jean Mugiraneza while Bokota Labama has been dropped from the traveling squad due to failure to turn up when summoned for training. Another major absentee is APR’s defender Boubakary Saddou. The Cameroonian import returned to his native country for family reasons. Amavubi Stars must finish top in group eight to guarantee passage to the third and final round or at worst get good result away to Mauritania. Tucak’s team lie second in group eight, level on nine points with Morocco but with a slim eight goals scored behind Atlas Lions who have scored ten. Twenty countries will qualify for the third and final qualifying round of the competition with the group winners in the 12 groups qualifying automatically. Eight best runners-up will join the 12 group winners for the third round, which will have a total of 20 teams. Amavubi traveling squad: Jean Claude Ndoli (APR), Jean Luc Ndayishimiye (Atraco), Arafat Serugendo (APR), Aimable Rucogoza (Rayon), Jean Bosco Uwacu (APR), Mwemere Girinshuti (APR), Bonaventure Hategikimana (Rayon), Patrick Mafisango (APR), Haruna Niyonzima (APR), Abdul Uwimana (Rayon), Abedi Mulenda (Atraco) and Saidi Abedi Makasi (Hapoel). Ends