Rwanda’s football federation has ruled out involving the Amavubi stars in any friendly match on the proposed Fifa International date of February 11. The Ferwafa Chief Executive Officer Jules Kalisa told Times Sport yesterday that the friendly match has been canceled to enable clubs(Atraco, APR) prepare adequately for their second leg continental matches. “Summoning players from APR and Atraco for the friendly match would jeopardize their clubs’ preparations for second leg Champions League and Confederation cup fixtures due in the same week.” “Both clubs will play next weekend and the international friendly on Wednesday would put the players on a high risk of sustaining injuries thus a blow to the clubs,” Kalisa said. Kalisa further added that this is done to enable both clubs (who are the providers of the players to the national team) prepare their respective squads without interferences. The friendly matches were proposed as part of the team’s preparations for the final round of the 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifying campaign. Tucak Branko’s team plays their opening World/Africa Cup qualifiers against Algeria on March 28 in Kigali. Rwanda will also engage Egypt and Zambia in Group C of the World/Africa Cup qualifiers. Rwanda had been scheduled to play Croatia, Libya, Morocco or Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Confederations Cup Group B contestants Egypt will sharpen their preparations for this year’s Fifa competition with a warm-up match against Ghana next Wednesday. A statement from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), discloses that the Pharaohs have requested to play the Black Stars at the Cairo International Stadium on February 11. Egypt plays their opening Confederations Cup match against Brazil in Bloemfontein on June 15. The continental champions and Ghana are also both engaged in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Ghana plays Benin at home. Although the Pharaohs have won the Nations Cup a record six times, the North African country has only qualified for the World Cup twice and the last time was 18 years ago. Ends
