Coach McKinstry names an U-23 squad combining existing talent with well as new players from Rwanda and abroad.

Coach McKinstry has named the 25 strong squad that will train ahead of the U-23 Championship qualifier against Somalia next weekend (25 April in Kigali).

The squad brings back together 14 players who were with the senior squad for the recent encounter against Zambia, as well as some new faces that have been identified by Coach McKinstry since his arrival in country just a few weeks ago.

McKinstry has added foreign based talent to the squad in
the form of Belgium based Salomon Nirisarike (VV St. Truiden); Italy-based Bonfils Kabanda (ASD Sangiovannese) and USA-based defender Yves Rubasha (Portland Timbers).

"I am working hard to identify new talent both within Rwanda and abroad.  I have been attending a number of league games and we have already identified some local players who have potential.  They will have the opportunity this week to demonstrate their ability - both for the U-23 team, but also potentially for the senior national team."

 

"We want to add wider experience to our already talented young squad so we are also bringing in a couple of young players from Europe and another from the USA who we hope will add further quality as well as experience from playing abroad.  This will benefit not only the team as a whole, but also each individual player they work to share skills and learn form each other"

Asked about his views on the level of ability within Rwanda and within the U-23 quad he commented:

"I am confident that many more of the players involved presently will go on to have the opportunity to further their career in european leagues, and the inclusion of these players who have already made that leap should give further encouragement and guidance to those young players currently plying their trade here in Rwanda."

As he prepared to begin training camp this weekend, McKinstry was clear on how the week would build into his wider plans for the development of football in Rwanda as a whole:

"The training camp this week provides another important opportunity to continue to work on the playing style and approach to the game that will run through all levels of the national team - from the Senior AFCON team, into the CHAN team and also the youth international levels."

 

The Opposition: Somalia 

Rwanda will face Somalia at home in Kigali on 25 April 2015, with the return leg on 9 May 2015 (in Nairobi, Kenya). Somalia are however something of an unknown quantity, having had a limited number of official games in recent years.  Mindful of this, Coach McKinstry has a clear vision for the week ahead:

"Our training this week will focus on our own approach to the game; and I am confident that if we play to the level we are capable of then we should be able to secure a good home result to take forward into the second leg to be played on 9th May in Nairobi, Kenya."

 

Rwanda Squad 

Goalkeepers
Olivier	Kwizera	APR
Marcel	Nzarora	Police
Yves	Kimenyi	APR
Defenders
Emery	Bayisenge	APR
Faustin	Usengimana	Rayon Sport
Herve	Rugwiro	APR
Solomon	Nirasrike	VV St. Truiden (Belgium)
Janvier	Mutijima	AS Kigali
Celestine	Ndayishimiye	Makura FC
Michel	Rusheshangoga	APR
Emmanuel	Imanishimwe	Rayon Sport
Yves	Rubasha	Portland Timbers (USA)
Midfielders
Djihad	Bizimana	Rayon Sport
Andrew	Buteera	APR
Robert	Ndatimana	Rayon Sport
Yannick	Mukunzi	APR
Kabanda	Bonfils	ASD Sangiovannese (Italy)
Kevin	Muhire	Isonga
Forwards
Justin	Mico	AS Kigali
Dominique Savio	Nshuti	Isonga
Jean-Marie	Muvandimwe	Gicumbi
Isaie	Songa	AS Kigali
Isaac	Muganza	Rayon Sport
Bertrand	Iradukunda	APR
Bienvue	Mugenzi	Marines

 

Coaching Staff: Johnny McKinstry (Head Coach), Thierry Hitimana (Assistant Coach),Thomas Higiro (Goalkeeper's coach), Moussa Hakizimana (Doctor), Nuhu Assouman (Physio) na Emery Kamanzi (Team Administrator)

 

CAF U23 Championship

The 2015 CAF U-23 Championship will be the second edition of the CAF U-23 Championship, the quadrennial youth football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the under-23 national teams of their member associations.

Rwanda begin their journey with opening games against Somalia, as part of the qualification phase of the 2015 CAF U-23 Championship. Rwanda will face Somalia at home in Kigali on 25 April 2015, with the return leg on 9 May 2015 (in Nairobi, Kenya).

Should Rwanda overcome Somalia they will face Uganda, with the winner of that fixture going on to face Egypt.

A total of eight teams will play in the final tournament, to be hosted in Senegal, December 5-19 2015.

Olympic Qualifiers

The tournament also acts as qualification to the 2016 Summer Olympics men's football tournament , with the top three teams qualifying.

 

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