Amavubi eyes bright start in Maputo

Rwanda coach coach Jonathan McKinstry will be seeking a positive start when Amavubi play away to Mambas of Mozambique in the opening Group H game of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers on Sunday in Maputo.

After Thursday’s final training session held at Amahoro stadium in the capital Kigali, the Irish-born coach said “the training camp and preparations have gone well this week and obviously we had the two friendlies against Kenya and Tanzania last weekend which were a very important part of our training program, because it allowed us to put a lot of players in a competitive situation.

“The atmosphere in training has been very good and players have all been lively at the sessions. We have worked well and the team is ready for the game on Sunday.

“Obviously, we are starting the qualification for the 2017 AFCON and the first game is a very important one because we know we are in a tough group with Mozambique, Mauritius and Ghana. So it’s very important to try and get a good start”.

McKinstry added “we know Mozambique is a very difficult team, playing a very different style compared to us so it will be a very close game. It is also a game we know that if we play to our maximum, we can take something out of it.

“Our minimum is to bring something back to Kigali. We want to start with at least a point but if we play to the maximum, three points are there for us to take,” added McKinstry.

Meanwhile, the Mozambican national soccer team, the "Mambas" is in full swing to host the Amavubis on Sunday at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto.

Mambas coach, Joao Chissano said his players are in good shape and that "all are aware that Rwanda is a strong team. But the team is ready to face the Rwandese without fear”.

Chissano has also urged his players to be attentive and concentrated on the game.

“I have been talking to the players so that they can face the game. We have been noticing that when we play against a team that we can beat, our performance is poorer than we play against strong national teams," he lamented.

Meanwhile, Ghana will host Mauritius in the other Group H fixture in Accra also on Sunday.