Three players have been summoned to the senior national football team for the newly introduced Africa Nations Championship. Kiyovu’s duo of Marcel Lomami (defender) and Jean Claude Iranzi (midfielder) along with Atraco striker Peter Kagabo have been included in the 23-man squad that starts preparations today at Nyamirambo stadium. Rwanda opens her qualification campaign against Burundi with the first leg set to be played on March 30 and the return leg a fortnight later. However, there is no place on the team for Atraco defender Ismail Nshutinamagara while APR’s Aloua Gaseruka who had earlier been dropped was recalled to replace Eric Gasana (Mbuyu Twite) who is officially away in DR Congo. Nshutinamagara, who captained the team for the opening game at last Cecafa senior challenge cup in Tanzania before Olivier Karekezi reported, was left out of the team because he’s been out of action with a heavy bout of malaria. We summoned the best players whom we think will be productive in the first leg of the African Championship. New blood has been added and we expect to find a strong team that can overcome Burundi in the first leg, assistant coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira said. Ntagwabira and Anttoine Rutsindura have been put in charge of the team temporarily until a new head coach is found. Ntagwabira’s club side, Atraco provides the bulk of the players with eight including first and second choice keepers, Eric Ndayiragije a.k.a Bakame and Charles Hakizimana. Others are; defender Donatien Tuyizere, midfielders Manfred Kizito, Jean Shyaka, Mutesa Mafisango and strikers Abedi Mulenda and Peter Kagabo. APR, for many years, a profound contributor to the national team have six players in the side. They include goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli, defender Jean Bosco Uwacu, Aloua Gaseruka, Elias Ntaganda and midfielders Jean Baptista Mugiraneza and Niyonzima Haruna. Rayon Sport has six who include; defenders Bonaventure Hategikimana and Aimable Rucogoza, midfielder Aphrodise Hategikimana as well as strikers Jean Lomami, Labama Bokota, Jimmy Gatete. Mukura and Police have one each, defender Arafat Serugendo and goalkeeper Ben Mandela from Police respectively. The winner after the two legs will face Sudan, which was given a bye to the first round that is scheduled to get underway in early May. Ends
