Oops, Micho almost did it!

Credit where credit is due, and to say that Amavubi Stars coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and his team do deserve a lot of it despite falling short of the ultimate prize in Dar es Salaam, is nothing short of an understatement. Barely two months since being installed as Amavubi Stars head coach, Micho has achieved more than most of his successors managed. In such a short period, the Serb, even though he hasn’t won anything, has managed to make Rwandans rekindle their love for their team. He and his team, against all odds almost did it, but again if you consider that fact that almost doesn’t count, the consolation for Amavubi in its defeat against the Uganda Cranes is that they gave their more ‘illustrious’ rivals a precious run for their money—and Rwandans can take heart from that. Over the 120 minutes, there was virtually little to choose between the two teams, but Cranes’ experience shone through, and Amavubi players can be proud of their achievement in a tournament which they entered as rank outsiders to win. Not very many gave Micho’s team any chance of doing as well as it did throughout the two-week long tournament in the Tanzanian capital. Actually by losing the final on penalties, Amavubi ends the tournament as the only unbeaten team from open play. Rwanda went into the final game on the back of five consecutive wins and in the final the players all over the field gave an excellent account of themselves—it’s not a shame to lose the way they did against a more experienced opponent. Given the team’s woes in recent times, Rwandans should be proud of their team’s performance throughout the tournament. The boys never stopped giving their best, unfortunately until those few final minutes in which they lost their composure at a time when it was required most. Uganda, despite being the better team on the balance of play, were there for the beating especially after Rwanda took the lead twice in normal time and also during the deadly spot kicks. I hate spot kicks and so does Micho, Ndoli, Mbuyu Twite, Emery Bayisenge and Albert Ngabo—I guess. But the fact that Rwanda’s Haruna Niyonzima was chosen as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and that two of their strikers Olivier Karekezi and Meddie Kagere finished the joint top scorers, speaks volumes about this Amavubi team—some critics must be eating a big chunk of humble pie. It may sound a bit comical to commend a team that won nowt since lifting this particular trophy 11 years ago, and has failed to win in five final games in that period, but this is not the time to criticize the players, whose application in Dar es Salaam was second to none. Micho will feel a little bit disappointed by now being the first coach to break Rwanda’s 11-year trophy drought, but after this tournament, he will feel there is more positives from his squad than negatives as he builds his team for future assignments. hamza.nkuutu@newtimes.co.rw