Gatete in line for Amavubi recall

Rayon Sports Striker Jimmy Gatete’s rich form during the preseason could put him in frame for a recall to the national team for the third and final 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifying round. News of Gatete’s looming return to the Amavubi Stars set-up was revealed by his club coach Raoul Shungu, who’s also the national team assistant coach to Branko Tucak. There is no person who knows about the Gatete and what he’s capable of better than Shungu who described the ex-APR star the country’s greatest striker. “No doubt Gatete is the leading striker in this country and his current form will not only be of great significance to his club (Rayon) but to his country too. The newly appointed Rayon Sports skipper is believed to be the most prolific striker Rwandan football has ever known a feat that made fans nickname him ‘god of goals’. He scored crucial goals during the 2004 African Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifications which saw Amavubi Stars team reach its first ever CAN finals. The most celebrated goal in Rwandan history is presumably his goal against the Black Stars of Ghana at Amahoro stadium in March 2003 which led to Rwanda’s 1-0 win and handed them their ticket to 2004 Tunis CAN finals. Gatete also scored against a Super Eagles defence that boasted key players like Everton’s Joseph Yobo of Everton to score arguably his greatest goal during the 2006 CAN qualifiers at Amahoro. However, the once feared as the most dangerous striker in the country, Gatete has been out of favor since being released by APR a year ago. He has not been a priority in Tucak’s plans for the entire 2010 World/Africa Cup second round qualifiers in which Rwanda has won four and lost just once. Rwanda took summit of Group Eight with nine points after edging Mauritania 1-0 in their previous game. Morocco stands in the second position with six points after the points against Ethiopia were nullified following a ban by the world’s football governing body, Fifa due to the government’s interference in the football federation management. Rwanda’s qualification to the next round will be known to decide whether they go through as group leaders of runners up after first round’s final fixtures due on October 12 when Morocco entertains pointless Mauritania in Casablanca. Ends

Lifestyle

Gatete in line for Amavubi recall