Micho to call 13 Pros for Mali clash

March 20Friendly matchRwanda vs LibyaMarch 242014 World Cup qualifierRwanda vs MaliDRC vs LibyaAMAVUBI Stars’ head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic has confirmed he will summon 13 professional players in his provisional squad for the World Cup Brazil 2014 qualifier against Mali scheduled for March 24 in Kigali.The Serb confirmed the development during a news conference on Monday upon his return from Europe where he had gone to look at how Rwandan players were doing for their clubs.He is closely monitoring nine professionals based in Europe namely; Solomon Nirisarike [Antweerp], Jimmy Mulisa [Tubize], Reinford Jessy [Namur], Henri Munyaneza [Sint-Niklaas], Steven Godfroid [Union Saint-Gilloise], Edwin Ouon [AEL Limassol], Patrick Vouho [AEL Limassol], Jean Paul Lutula [Unattached] and Elias Uzamukunda [AS Cannes].And the other four playing on the African continent include; Olivier Karekezi [AC Bizertin], Haruna Niyonzima [Yanga Fc], Mbuyu Twite [Yanga Fc] and Dady Birori [AS Vita].“This time I plan to invite most of our professional players from Europe and Africa so that we have a strong and more experienced squad for the game against Mali. “The addition of more pros will add to the competition for a place on the final team. We want to test everyone in the friendly match against Libya to see who makes the grade,” Micho said.He added, “I am not satisfied with the team’s performance recent, but I believe we can play a good game against Mali.” The former St. George coach noted that he is looking forward to seeing the home-based players fight hard to win places on the team.“I still believe we have a chance against Mali despite them being one Africa’s best teams,” added the under-fire Amavubi coach.Impressive startThe Serb, who signed a two-year contract with Amavubi in 2011, got his Amavubi career off to a bright start, winning four of his first five matches, but things have since taken a drastic U-turn.The downward spiral started with the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria followed by three warm-up matches ahead of 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Algeria and Benin.It started with a 2-1 defeat against Libya, followed by a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of Tunisia.The Wasps then drew their final warm-up match against Chad (1-1) before losing 0-4 to Algeria in the first match of the World Cup qualifier.Amavubi then regrouped to grind out a 1-all draw against Benin in their second 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier.These results mean that Benin top the group with 4 points followed by Mali and Algeria with three points apiece.Rwanda is bottom with a solitary point making this month’s qualifier against Mali so crucial to the bedraggled Amavubi. Amavubi will go into Mali’s qualifier well aware that anything short of three points will all but end their dream of playing in Brazil.

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Micho to call 13 Pros for Mali clash