Constantine slams Ferwafa

Rwanda national football team head coach Stephen Constantine has criticized Ferwafa for not organizing regular friendly games for the Amavubi. Constantine lamented that lack of exposure has hindered his plans for preparing the Amavubi for the 2016 African Nations Cup (CHAN) that will be hosted in Rwanda. “The last time Amavubi played a game was on August 2 (against Congo Brazzaville) so for three months we have not had any international game and this is not good for the team,” lamented the Englishman at a press conference held at the Ferwafa headquarters yesterday. Constantine, who signed as head coach in May, started off on a high note with a historic 3-0 win against the reigning CHAN champions Libya in the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In the second round, Rwanda lost to Congo Brazzaville 0-2 in Pointe Noir but bounced back with a 2-0 at home to tie the aggregate score. The Amavubi then won a tense penalty shootout 4-3 to proceed to the Afcon group stage qualifiers. However, Rwanda was disqualified from the continental competition for fielding a dual identity player (Dady Birori) and the national team has not played a game since then, a feat which Constantine is furious about. “There are no games for the U-17s, U-20s and U-23s as well as the senior team. Players can be good in training but without playing competitive international games, there is no development. By now we should have played three to four games because the next FIFA international break is in March,” explained the frustrated Constantine. Ahead of the friendly game against Morocco on November 14, the Englishman has named a 26-man provincial squad for a two-day training period at Amahoro stadium. He said, “This is not enough.” With a target of preparing a team for CHAN, Constantine has named only locally based players dropping the Amavubi captain Haruna Niyonzima who features of Young Africans (Yanga) in Tanzania as well as Salomon Nirisarike who plies his trade in Belgium for Saint-Truidin. Constantine has summoned young upcoming players with most of them below the age of 23 most notably Innocent Ndizeye from Amagaju and Vedaste Niyibizi of Sunrise FC who have been called to the Amavubi squad for the first time. Team list Goalkeepers: Marcel Nzarora (Police FC), Jean Luc Ndayishimiye (Rayon Sports), Olivier Kwizera (APR FC) Defenders: Michel Rusheshangoga (APR FC), Hamdan Bariyanga (AS Kigali), Eric Rutanga (APR FC), Sibomana Bakari (Rayon Sports), Emery Bayisenge (APR FC), Herve Rugwiro (APR FC), Ismael Nshutiyamagara (APR FC) Midfielders: Jean Paul Havugarurema (Rayon Sports), Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza (APR FC), Rachid Kalisa (Police FC), Kevin Muhire (Isonga FC), Robert Ndatimana (Rayon Sports), Jean Claude Iranzi (APR FC), Patrick Sibomana (APR FC), Jacques Tuyisenge (Police FC), Justin Mico (AS Kigali), Savio Dominique Nshuti (Isonga FC). Strikers: Bertrand Iradukunda (APR FC), Michel Ndahinduka (APR FC), Ernest Sugira (AS Kigali), Danny Usengimana (Isonga FC), Innocent Ndizeye (Amagaju), Vedaste Niyibizi (Sunrise FC).