AMAVUBI coach Vincent Mashami has confirmed that foreign-based players have started joining the camp ahead of the Seychelles tie in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. His side travel to Seychelles for the first-leg on September 5 before hosting the decider at Kigali Stadium on September 10, with the aggregate winner advancing into the group stage. By press time Thursday, center-back Emery Bayisenge (from Bangladesh) and Egypt-based midfielder Kevin Muhire were in training with the rest of home-based players, while Abdoul Rwatubyaye (from the United States) and Young Africans forward Patrick Sibomana are expected in the country on Friday. “We are still assessing the players’ fitness and so far there are no injuries in the team. We started training with home-based players, but professionals have also started jetting in,” said Mashami. “We are mainly working on our finishing. We struggled to exploit our chances [in front of goal] fully in past matches, and it was part of why we performed poorly. We have to do better against Seychelles and in other competitions coming up.” Other foreign-based players who are expected to boost the Amavubi camp by September 1 include Salomon Nirisarike (FC Tubize, Belgium), Yannick Mukunzi (Sandvikens IF, Sweden), Djihad Bizimana (Waasland Beveren, Belgium), Meddie Kagere (Simba SC, Tanzania), Jacques Tuyisenge (Petro Atletico, Angola) and Muhadjiri Hakizimana (Emirates Club, UAE). Mashami, a former head coach for local giants APR, has also challenged his defenders to improve how they cope with pressure. “We have a habit of concentration lapses in crucial moments. It has to stop.” editor@newtimesrwanda.com
