CALABAR – Rwanda has missed out participating in the Africa Nations’ Cup final for a fifth consecutive time after losing out to Nigeria in the first qualifying round of the 2013 continental finals.Missing out on such a big opportunity to qualify should not be a reason to hate the national team but it should leave a lesson behind to everyone responsible for the welfare of the team to find lasting solutions to the team’s luckluster performance.I have followed the team closely since it began participating in the preliminary round of the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Eritrea until last Saturday when it lost to Nigeria, thus bowing out of the qualification campaign for South Africa 2013.We have used all possible means, from awkward and short-term means to be where other top footballing nations are today but have still not achieved what the country needs.Since the team has now missed out on the Africa Nations’ Cup qualification again, it’s high time we switched from plan B to plan A which is more suitable for us. Investment in young talents by making a drastic reshuffle in the current team set-up, putting everyone on a weighing machine and see who merits to don the national shirt. We have nothing to lose; we have lost it so many times. I believe between now and March next year when 2014 World Cup qualifiers resume, head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic can build a formidable young squad that we can build on for the 2015 Africa Nations’ Cup qualifiers.Blaming or sacking the coach for every loss isn’t the solution, lest we forget that the country lacks reliable, committed and dedicated players, who are up to the task of challenging against top African nations like Nigeria, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and others.Without going back to the sacked coaches, the incumbent Micho, has used the best players that Rwandan league has offered him, even with good tactical philosophies but it has not worked.Let his bosses task him to invest in the young U-17 and U-20 players, who have their country at heart instead of asking him results from a bunch of worn-out players.There are some young players that can make a difference if given a chance in the likes of Emery Bayisenge, Salomon Nirisarike, Iranzi Jean Claude, Godfroid Steven, Fabrice Twagizimana, Tumaine Ntamuhanga, Elias Uzamukunda and Imran Nshimiyimana.Other players that can fit in the long term plans for a better Amavubi team; include goalie Olivier Kwizera (Isonga FC), Steven Ntalibi (Isonga FC), Michel Rusheshangoga (Isonga FC), Barnabé Mubumbyi (APR academy), Robert Ndatimana (Isonga FC), Eric Nsabimana (Isonga FC), Innocent Habyarimana (AS Kigali), Farouk Ruhinda (Isonga FC), Patrick Sibomana (Isonga FC), Charles Mugabo (Arsenal U-18), Andrew Buteera (Proline academy – set to return from injury in August) to mention but a few.Soon after the U-20 Africa Nation’s Cup qualifiers are over, Micho should be given a chance to start preparing such young players, engage them in friendly matches, field them in Cecafa Challenge Cup, due in Tanzania, later this year, as well as qualifiers for Africa Nations’ Championship (CHAN) so as to ready them for next March.All concerned parties, including Ferwafa and the government should be involved in finding a scheme of sending out players to play professional football more often so as the country can have a variety of better resources to choose from than the current lot.There is a need to start a new chapter with young players but who can gbe uided from a pick of more experienced guards like Olivier Karekezi, Haruna Niyonzima, Bokota Labama, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Ismail Nshutiyamagara, Meddie Kagere, Dady Birori, Mbuyu Twite, Frederique Ndaka, Jonas Nahimana, Jean Claude Ndoli, Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Jerome Sina, Albert Ngabo and Evariste Mutuyimana.With due respect, the afore mentioned older players have done their best whenever called on to represent their country, but it is now time focus turned to the younger blood.Since 1994, Rwanda has had so many coaches, including Ratomir Dujkovic (2001-04), Roger Palmgren (2004-05), Michael Nees (2006-07), Josip Kuze (2007-08), Branko Tucak (2008-09), Sellas Tetteh (2010-11) and the incumbent Micho, but none has stayed long enough to come up with a lasting solution to building a better team.The country is out of the running for the 2013 Africa Nations’ Cup finals and the team is likely not to qualify for 2014 World Cup, yet with proper planning and long term investment, Amavubi can make it to 2015 Nations’ Cup finals.We can also hope that, Amavubi can prepare thoroughly to win the 2016 CHAN finals which will be hosted in Kigali.
