The national football team residential camp has been boosted by the arrival of talisman Meddie Kagere who was recalled in Amavubi for the first time in four years. Since August 22, Amavubi have been in intensive preparations under the watchful eye of newly appointed head coach Vincent Mashami as they gear up for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group H qualifier against former champions Ivory Coast come September 9 in Kigali. The Uganda-born Rwanda international, Kagere, who arrived in the country last night from Dar es Salaam where he plies his trade with Tanzanian champions Simba SC, last played for Amavubi in 2014 during the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. The former Police FC skipper becomes the fourth foreign-based player to join the residential camp at La Palisse Golden Tulip following the arrival of team captain Haruna Niyonzima, goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera and striker Dany Usengimana. Playmaker Niyonzima and Kagere are teammates at Simba, goalie Kwizera plays for South African side Free State Stars while Usengimana is in the process of completing his move to Egyptian side Tersana FC from Tanzania’s Singida United. Other expected arrivals While speaking to Sunday Sport on Saturday, Amavubi assistant coach Innocent Seninga revealed that Belgium-based duo of Salomon Nirisarike (AFC Tubize, Belgium) and Bizimana Djihad (Beveren, Belgium) will report to camp on Monday. Former Rayon Sports defender Faustin Usengimana who joined Kuwaiti side Khitan Sport Club last month, Belarus-based Patrick Sibomana (FC Shakhtyor) and forward Jacques Tuyisenge (Gor Mahia, Kenya) will join teammates in camp on September 5. In the ongoing qualifiers for next year’s AFCON finals, to be staged in Cameroon, Amavubi have been drawn in Group H alongside Ivory Coast, the Republic of Central Africa and Guinea. Rwanda started the group campaign on wrong footing as the team, then under German tactician Antoine Hey lost 2-1 away to the Republic of Central Africa, in June last year. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
