Rwanda Coach Nees rules out build-ups


By HAMZA NKUUTU

Monday, 18 September 2006

Amavubi Stars will not play any international build up game in preparation for their second Africa Nations Cup due next month against Liberia.

Rwanda travels to face Liberia on October 7; however, unlike the tradition of playing build up international matches, head coach Micheal Nees said yesterday that the Ghana 2008 second game mission would have no such arrangements.

“I don’t want any international friendlies for the Liberia game, we have little time between now and the game and therefore, I want to use this time effectively,” Nees said after taking his team through yesterday’s first training session at Amahoro stadium.

The German noted that he wants to concentrate on the physical preparations since its one important factor that most of his players lacked.

Only 12 players turned up for the first training session yesterday morning, however, the coach said, he wasn’t worried as yet.

He said: “There are reasons why some players have not reported today’s [yesterday] training, for instance, APR played just yesterday [Sunday], so I had to allow them a day of rest.”

He noted that he expects the number to increase today; and in the coming days as he plans to summon up to three players from the U-20 and probably one from the U-17.

“You know there is a shortage of players here, so we have to do with what we have,” he stressed that he expects his first choice goalkeeper Ramadhan Nkunzingoma to join camp possibly tomorrow as well as Jannot Witakenge whom he expects in camp next Monday.

He said, “We have talked to him [Witakenge] and he has assured me he should be here on Monday.”

The St. Loi Lupopo midfielder also pledged his availability for the Cameroon game but didn’t show up for certain reasons and in the coach own submission, the team missed his services in the midfield.