Amavubi Stars begin preps for Benin clash

Sept. 8Benin vs Rwanda Sept. 10Algeria vs Benin AMAVUBI Stars begin daily training sessions today in preparation for next month’s 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil qualifier against Benin which is scheduled for September 8 in Porto Novo. “The team regrouped last night at La Palisse hotel and will start training today at Amahoro stadium,” team manager Alfred Ngarambe told Times Sport.Head coach Eric Nshimiyimana starts his preparations with only local players, who will be joined by professional players early next month.With no hopes of progressing to the play-offs of the 2014 World Cup qualifying, Rwanda will be aiming for a win in Porto Novo to improve their Fifa rankings which placed the country in a distant 131st position this month.Amavubi won on their last visit to Benin two years ago under Nshimiyimana as care-taker coach with debutant striker Meddie Kagere netting the solitary goal in the 1-0 victory.Pros arrivalThe professional trio of Haruna Niyonzima (Young Africans), Salomon Nirisarike (FC Antwerp) and Olivier Karekezi (CA Bizertin) will start arriving in the country on September 2.However, Nshimiyimana must make his plans without his experienced first choice goalie Jean Claude Ndoli, who is suspended for the final Group H qualifier after accumulating two yellow cards in the last two qualifiers against Mali and Algeria respectively.But goalkeeping coach Ibrahim Mugisha is positive on the choice of replacements at his disposal, among them, Emery Mvuyekure (AS Kigali), Evariste Mutuyimana (SC Kiyovu) and Gerard Bikorimana (Rayon Sports).Algeria top Group H with 12 points and are through to the next round of the qualifiers, while second-placed Mali are four points adrift with a game still to be played. Benin is placed third with five points and Rwanda is bottom of the standings with two points.