Amavubi centre back Manzi Thierry will miss Zanzibar game as he nurses a harmstring sustained when Rwand played Kenya on Sunday. Internet Photo
Rwanda men’s national team face injury blows of first choice centre back Manzi Thierry who was left injured after the opening game of the Cecafa Challenge Cup which pitted Rwanda against hosts Kenya in Kakamega on Sunday.
Manzi suffered a nagging hamstring from Sunday’s opening game and will miss Rwanda’s Tuesday game against Zanzibar which will be played at 2pm (1pm Kigali time) in Machakos.
With Ali Mbogo like to take the starting role in place for the injured star, the Rayon Sports player might be back in action when Rwanda face Libya on Thursday.
Against hosts Kenya on Sunday, Rwanda lost 0-2 with Duncan Otieno and Masud Juma scoring for the home side.
Skipper Eric Ndayishimiye told the media after the game, “We are a squad of young players who are building up and hopefully, the mistakes we had today (Sunday) will not be repeated. It was a bad start but I am confident we can improve,”
Rwanda is using the Cecafa Challenge Cup tournament as part of preparation for the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) next year and and the country has fielded most of the players who will be in action in Morocco next January.
Kenya broke the deadlock after 24 minutes from the penalty spot after Jockins Atudo was tagged down inside the box by Soter Kayumba. Juma stepped forward and converted to give Kenya the lead.
The forward who was Kenya’s top scorer in the just concluded Premier League season should have had a second after being put through unmarked by Yvonne Isuza but his shot skied over the bar.
But almost a minute later, Stars were 2-0 up. Some good movement from the Stars saw Odhiambo cross the ball from the left, Isuza setting up Otieno who took a thunderbolt from 30 yards out, leaving keeper Ndayishimiye well beaten with no chance.
Amavubi were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Kayumba was sent off for a second bookable offence. Despite the disadvantage, the Rwandese piled pressure on Kenya but they couldn’t crack the defence to get a shot at goal.
