Rwandan referee Salma Rhadia Mukansaga is among the match officials selected by CECAFA to take charge of the upcoming regional women tournament which will be held in Kigali next week
Three Rwandan women referees have been picked to handle the CECAFA Women Challenge Cup 2018 which will be staged in Kigali City from July 19-27.
The trio include: FIFA Under-20 Women World Cup candidate referee Mukasanga Salma Rhadia who was picked among the five centre referees for the tournament.
The other centre referees from other countries named for the competition include Jonesia R. Kabakama (Tanzania), Lidya Tafesse Abebe (Ethiopia), Nabada Shamilah (Uganda) and Carolyne Wanjala (Kenya)
The remaining Rwandan duo of Sandrine Murangwa and Francine Ingabire will officiate among other assistant referees lined up for the tournament namely; Wogayehu Zewdu Bizuayehu (Ethiopia), Mary Njoroge (Kenya), Lydia Nantabo (Uganda) and Tanzanian Hellen Mduma.
Meanwhile, Rwanda National Women Football Team is engaged in intensive preparations ahead of this year’s CECAFA Women’s Championship.
Twenty four players were summoned by head coach Kayiranga Jean Baptista on Tuesday to start residential training at La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata.
The team will train until July 18, a day before they take on reigning champions Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Queens in the opening match of the regional tournament, which is scheduled to kick-off at 16:15 at Stade de Kigali.
The Rwandan ladies will be back to action on Monday July 23 when they host Ethiopia at 16:15, then face Uganda on Wednesday July 25before concluding their campaign on Friday July 27 against Kenya.
The majority of the players summoned have been withdrawn from reigning National Women League champions AS Kigali WFC, league runners-up Scandinavia WFC and Kamonyi WFC and Rambura WFC respectively.
The former AS Kigali player Mukamana Clementine who plies her trade with Tanzania’s Kigoma Sisters is the only foreign-based player summoned to beef up the women squad.
Rwanda, who didn’t progress past the group stage, will be aiming to win the tournament but will face strong opposition from defending champions Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya who have had competitive women’s teams in recent continental and global qualifiers.
Tanzania won the title after edging Kenya in the final while Ethiopia overcame hosts Uganda to take third place in the 2016 edition held in Uganda.
Rwanda Women National Football Team Provision List
Goalkeepers: Nyirabashyitsi Judith (AS Kigali WFC), Umubyeyi Zakia (Scandinavia Wfc) & Uwizeyimana Helene (AS Kigali WFC).
Defenders: Mukantaganira Joselyne (AS Kigali WFc), Murorunkwere Claudine (Rambura WFc), Kayitesi Alody (AS Kigali Wfc), Uwamahoro Marie Claire (AS Kigali Wfc), Umulisa Edith (Scandinavia Wfc), Maniraguha Louise (AS Kigali Wfc), Umwizera Angelique (AS Kigali Wfc), Mukamana Clementine (Kigomo Sisters Wfc, Tanzania) and Mutuyimana Albertine (Kamonyi Wfc)
Midfielders: Uwimbabazi Immaculee (Kamonyi Wfc), Nibagwire Sifa Gloria (Scandinavia Wfc), Kalimba Alice (AS Kigali Wfc), Mukeshimana Jeanette (AS Kigali Wfc), Nyiramwiza Martha (AS Kigali Wfc) and Uwamahoro Marie Claire (AS Kigali Wfc).
Forwards: Ibangarye Anne Marie (Scandinavia Wfc), Umwariwase Dudja (AS Kigali Wfc), Nibagwire Libery (AS Kigali Wfc), Iradukunda Callixte (AS Kigali Wfc), Uwamahoro Beatrice (Kamonyi Wfc) and Kankindi Fatuma (Scandinavia Wfc)
Technical Team:
Kayiranga Jean Baptista (Head Coach), Mbarushimana Shaban (Assistant Coach), Umunyana Seraphine (Assistant Coach), Maniraguha Claude (Goalkeeper Coach), Uwimana Claudine (Physiotherapist), Kayishakire Hadidja (Team Manager) and Uwase Ange Nicole (Kit Manager).
CECAFA Women Challenge Cup 2018
Fixtures
Thursday, July 19
Kenya v Uganda – (Stade de Kigali, 14:00)
Rwanda v Tanzania Mainland – (Stade de Kigali, 16:15)
Friday, July 20: Rest Day
Saturday, July 21
Ethiopia v Uganda – (Stade de Kigali, 14:00)
Kenya v Tanzania – (Stade de Kigali, 16:15)
Sunday, July 22: Rest Day
Monday, July 23
Uganda v Tanzania – (Stade de Kigali, 14:00)
Rwanda v Ethiopia – (Stade de Kigali, 16 :15)
Tuesday, July 24: Rest Day
Wednesday, July 25
Kenya v Ethiopia – (Stade de Kigali, 14:00)
Uganda v Rwanda – (Stade de Kigali, 16:15)
Thursday, July 26: Rest Day
Friday, July 27
Ethiopia v Tanzania – (Stade de Kigali, 14:00)
Rwanda v Kenya – (Stade de Kigali, 16:15)
