Amavubi Stars will begin preparations for next week’s Fifa international friendly match against Malawi on Friday, according to head coach Eric Nshimiyimana. Nshimiyimana told Times Sport yesterday that the national senior football team will train until Tuesday next week ahead of Wednesday’s clash with The Flames. “We need to give these youngsters more exposure and playing against Malawi will help us better prepare for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Benin,” said Nshimiyimana. The former Amavubi skipper will have welcomed news that three of his first choice players Michel Rusheshangoga, Faustin Usegimana and Andrew Buteera will not head to France with the Under-20 team for the Francophone Games. “I talked to Richard Tardy (U-20 coach) and agreed that first team players be left behind for Amavubi assignment. So players like Rusheshangoga, Usengimana and Buteera will not go but he will take their replacements as I also look for players to replace Emery Bayisenge and Patrick Sibomana.” Nshimiyimana will also face Malawi without midfielder Jean Baptist Mugiraneza, who will be featuring for APR FC in the EAC Military Games which got underway yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya. But he hopes to turn to Mohammed Mushimiyimana and Fabrice Twagizimana to fill the void created by the absence of the players. Malawi arrive in the country on Sunday with a 26-member delegation under the tutelage of Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet. The last time Amavubi took on The Flames was during last year’s Cecafa Challenge Cup in Kampala, Uganda where Rwanda triumphed 2-0 in the group stages.
