Amavubi midfielder Rafael York has dismissed reports involving him in fighting for a shirt number with a teammate. The 22-year-old Rwanda international, who plies his trade in Swedens top flight side AFC Eskilstuna, on Saturday, November 13, left the national team camp, two days before Amavubi faces Kenya in Nairobi, in Group Es last game of the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers. There were reports claiming that York had issues with striker Ernest Sugira over shirt number 16. Sugira has worn number 16 in the national team but lost it to York after coach Vincent Mashami left him out of the national team squad since Rwanda started the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers campaign in September. It was reported that York left the camp after he and his teammate Sugira failed to agree on who wears number when the latter got a call up to the national team for the first time in this qualifying campaign but York said the claims surrounding the shirt number saga are false, saying that he returned to Sweden for personal issues. “I went home because of personal issues. One of my close friends passed away and it has nothing to do with the team or dressing room, the players statement reads in part. I love the team and Rwanda and I have much hope for the future. But for me, family always comes first. And this is the reason I went back home, he added. Rwanda is just playing for pride as they face Kenya in Nairobi on Monday, November 14, ahead of the last game of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The visitors sit bottom of Group E with just one point after five outings, a point behind Kenya. Table leaders Mali are through to the playoffs after collecting 16 points in the group qualifiers while Uganda finished second with nine points.
