Midfielder Butera Andrew seen against Uganda in a past qualifier. The APR Fc player didn’t make the final Rwanda team to Cecafa Challenge Cup
The Amavubi head coach Antoine Hey on Thursday evening named the final 23-man team which he will deploy at the forthcoming Cecafa Challenge Cup which starts in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday.
The APR Fc’s midfielder Andrew Butera who missed the cut as SC Kiyovu centre back and APR Fc’s Maxime Sekamana made it to the final traveling team and will make their senior debut for Amavubi team.
Speaking to media after Thursday’s training session, Coach Hey commented on Butera’s snub saying, “Butera is a good player who is coming back from an injury which took him long to recover. So it’s not wise to just rush him into a tournament like the Cecafa Challenge Cup,”
“He is a committed, talented and brave player who is yet to gain the fitness level needed but I believe we can use him for CHAN finals in January hence I have to save him for this competition to enable him gain the fully fitness needed for this tournament,” added the former Kenyan tactician.
Other known players who made it to the traveling team include defenders Rugwiro Herve (APR FC), Omborenga Fitina (APR FC), Imanishimwe Emmanuel (APR FC), midfielders Bizimana Djihad (APR FC), Hakizimana Muhadjiri (APR FC), Nshimiyimana Amran (APR FC), Mukunzi Yannick (Rayon Sports), Manishimwe Djabel (Rayon Sports), Niyonzima Ally (AS Kigali) and forwards Nshuti Innocent (APR FC), Mico Justin (Police FC), Biramahire Abeddy (Police FC).
Rwanda is drawn in Group A alongside hosts Kenya, guest Libya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The opening match of this year’s edition of the CECAFA Challenge Cup between Rwanda’s Amavubi team, 2015 finalists and hosts Kenya has been shifted from Machakos to Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega on Sunday at 2pm (1pm Rwandan time).
On the same day another Group A match between Libya and Tanzania will take place at Kenyatta Machakos stadium at 4pm (3pm Rwandan time).
Rwanda national team departs for Nairobi, Kenya on Friday evening aboard Rwandair.
Rwanda final squad:
Goalkeepers: Kimenyi Yves (APR FC), Nzarora Marcel (Police FC) and Eric Ndayishimiye (Rayon Sports FC)
Defenders: Rugwiro Herve (APR FC), Omborenga Fitina (APR FC), Imanishimwe Emmanuel (APR FC), Manzi Thierry (Rayon Sports), Usengimana Faustin (Rayon Sports), Rutanga Eric (Rayon Sports), Kayumba Soter (AS Kigali), Iradukunda Eric (AS Kigali) na Mbogo Ally (SC Kiyovu).
Midfielders: Bizimana Djihad (APR FC), Hakizimana Muhadjiri (APR FC), Nshimiyimana Amran (APR FC), Mukunzi Yannick (Rayon Sports), Manishimwe Djabel (Rayon Sports), Niyonzima Ally (AS Kigali) na Niyonzima Olivier (Rayon Sports).
Forwards: Nshuti Innocent (APR FC), Sekamana Maxime (APR FC), Mico Justin (Police FC), Biramahire Abeddy (Police FC).
