Amavubi Stars’ coach, Michael Nees predict chances


By HAMZA NKUUTU

Amavubi Stars’ coach, Michael Nees is convinced his team can overturn the 0-3 loss to Cameroon, by beating the Lone Stars at their own backyard. “We have a chance [of beating Liberia] if we can only rectify the few mistakes we made in the game against Cameroon,” he told Times Sport.


He noted, “The West Africans, and everyone knows how good teams from that region are, however, they are not Cameroon, so we can rate our chances against them.”

Rwanda plays Liberia in Monrovia on October 8, in their second game of the Ghana 2008 African Nations Cup Ghana-2008 qualifier.

Both Rwanda and Liberia lost their opening games, against Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea respectively, a situation that creates a tricky Monrovia tie.

Neither side boasts of having a sound record in the competition—the Lone Stars have qualified for Africa’s biggest football showcase twice in their history in 1996 and 2002; the Amavubi Stars have made a single appearance in 2004.

As part the preparations for the Liberia game, the team faces league giants Atraco FC in a training-build-up game today at Amahoro stadium.

Earlier reports had suggested that today’s game would be against the national U-23 side, however, that was changed, and instead the game against the U-23 will be played next week on Wednesday.

Nees is working to see Amavubi win their first competitive game, since he took over as coach. He has only managed a draw, 1-1 against Uganda before falling1-0 to Tanzania in two separate international build ups.