Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars are emerging as one of the surprise packages of the 2010 World Cup/Nations’ up qualifiers, but their potential faces a real test when Morocco this afternoon at Nyamirambo stadium. Both sides have a 100 per cent record in group eight thus far, and their meetings over the next two weeks will surely settle the top place in the group. After today’s meeting in Kigali, the two teams face off again next weekend in Rabat as the second half of the campaign gets underway. Morocco are missing several top players including their Portuguese league-winner Tarik Sektioui, Ukraine-based midfielder Badr El Kaddouri, France-based Marouane Chamakh and Anderlecht’s Mbark Boussoufa for the game.As for the Amavubi Stars, apart from Boubakary Saddou, Blanko Tucak has a clean bill of healthy within his squad, which consequently gives him a selection headache that coaches enjoy but dread at the same time. The APR defender of Cameroon origin suffered a muscle strain towards the end of the half in last weekend’s 2-1 success over Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. Saddou has made an instant impression at the start of his international career during the last two games against Mauritania and Ethiopia with an eye-catching display of defensive discipline. Tucak has become to be known for not revealing his squad until the last minute but it will be a surprise if he makes any changes to the team that started against Ethiopia. Minus the injured Saddou, Aloua Gaseruka, Elias Ntaganda, Ismail Nshutinamagara and Hamad Ndikumana should start in defence with Jean-Claude Ndoli expected to keep his place between the sticks. Olivier Karekezi, Haruna Niyonzima, Mbuyu Twite, Patrick Mafisango ought to start in the middle of the park as it they did in Ethiopia while Saidi Abedi and Labama Bokota to lead the attack. Although this team has not played as well as they can in the last two games, the second half performances in both games has shown signs of a team that has the force to battle on for a full 90 minutes. However, against Morocco, they can’t afford to wait until the second half to get into the game or else they would be inviting more trouble for themselves. Tucak should encourage his players to start today’s match in the same approach as they’ve done in the second halves of the last two matches. Take the game to the opponents from the onset. The majority of Rwandans if not the all would settle for a good result over a stylish performance from today’s crunch tie. Amavubi player need to get into the faces of their opponents, play it hard and tough but without necessarily being rough because it will lead to yellow cards, some of which could result in suspensions. The Amavubi Stars camp, meanwhile, remains in fine spirits after Karekezi’s last-minute winner gave them victory in Addis Ababa and a repeat if the second half battling in that match should give further encouragement not to hold any fear for Morocco. Ends
