Mafisango vows to repay Tetteh’s faith

AFTER missing Amavubi Stars’ opening two 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Benin last year, midfielder Patrick Mutesa Mafisango has vowed to pay Sellas Tetteh’s faith by getting a good result against Burundi this weekend. Rwanda hosts Burundi this Saturday at Nyamirambo stadium in a Group H African Nations’ Cup qualifier. The Tanzania-based Azam midfielder cum defender’s return to the fold adds both experience and versatility to the team that has seemed to lack character and leadership in the last two qualifiers that they have lost first (3-0) to Ivory Coast away, then (0-3) Benin at Amahoro stadium. The former team captain, Mafisango talked to Times Sport on Wednesday: “I am relishing the opportunity of putting the Amavubi jersey again.” “My commitment to the team is unquestionable. I have played to my best whenever I played in the past, and the target to continue doing the same against Burundi. “I want to repay the coach’s faith in me again especially after missing out on the last two qualifiers. I want to help the team not only get a good result against Burundi, but most importantly, qualify for Nations’ Cup finals,” noted the former APR and Atraco star. Tetteh and his team have endured a catastrophic campaign in Group H following defeats to Ivory Coast in Yamasoukrou and Benin in Kigali. A win for Amavubi over the weekend would go a long way to putting their campaign back on track, but defeat would means the end of the dream of being on the plane to Africa’s biggest football tournament for the second time, following the 2004 debut when the event was staged in Tunisia. Meanwhile, Burundi, third in the group with one point, arrive in the country this afternoon aboard RwandAir plane. The Burundian delegation will reside at Alpha Palace hotel. Ends

Sports

Mafisango vows to repay Tetteh’s faith