Micho apologises to fans after worst defeat

International friendliesSundayTunisia 5-1 RwandaLibya 1-0 ChadAMAVUBI Stars head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic suffered his worst defeat in his 18-year career as a professional coach when Rwanda lost 5-1 against Tunisia in an international friendly match played on Sunday night at Monastir stadium in Soussa.Micho made several changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Libya early in the week, leaving out some senior players on Sunday but it helped little as the hosts took the lead after just 16 minutes when Ammar Jemal scored from a penalty after Fabrice Twagizimana fouled Khelifa Sabeur.Amavubi were out-played by their more clinical opponents but held on firmly to half time. Despite making changes in the second half, Issam Jomma scored the second goal soon after recess. Five minutes later Hamdi Harboui made it three following another defensive error by Ismail Nshutiyamagara.The introduction of Haruna Niyonzima paid off minor dividends as he dribbled from the centre half, playing a one-on one with Jonas Nahimana and threaded well-timed through ball to Dady Birori to reduce the deficit on the 57th minute.Harboui added his second and Tunisia’s fourth goal when Nahimana failed to clear a dangerous ball inside the area which gift the Lokeren striker a chance to score past Isonga goalie Olivier Kwizera.Saihi Jamel scored Tunisia’s fifth goal from an indirect free kick which came after the inexperienced Kwizera caught a back pass from Solomon Nirisarike forcing Morocco’s referee Rahmani Mounir to give the hosts an indirect free on the edge of the box.Micho said, “We wanted a taste of North African football and we got it, but we have learnt a lot from our time here”.“When you are building something, you sometimes pay a very expensive price. We have learnt a very painful and expensive lesson from these games.“I am very disappointed with the results that were mainly due to lack of communication in the defence and it led to defensive errors, which are unacceptable at this level,” noted the Serbian.The former SC Villa coach revealed, “In 18 years as a professional coach, this is my biggest loss of my coaching career but we must pick ourselves up as quickly as possible since we don’t have much time left before the Algeria game”.“For the fans back at home, all I can say after this (defeat) is we are sorry but when you are building a new team like we are doing, such results will always happen,” he apologised.Amavubi starting team:Olivier Kwizera (Evaritse Mutuyimana), Ismail Nshutiyamagara (Tumaine Ntamuhanga), Solomon Nirisarike, Fabrice Twagizimana (Ngabo Albert), Frederick Ndaka, Jean Baptista Mugiraneza, Jonas Nahimana, Bonny Bayingana (Olivier Karekezi), Jean Claude Iranzi (Haruna Niyonzima), Meddie Kagere, Dady Birori (Sina Jerome).

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Micho apologises to fans after worst defeat