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Rwanda: Blanko to Wield Axe
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The New Times (Kigali)
6 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Bonnie Mugabe
Kigali
Sudan 4-0 RwandaAfter a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Sudan's Desert Hawks, Amavubi Stars coach Blanko Tucak is set to overhaul the national team.
The Croat will name a new squad ahead of the second leg of the Africa Nations Championship first round's second leg due in Kigali in a fortnight.
Tucak confirmed the development on Monday after the Amavubi team's arrival from Sudan, were they suffered a defeat 0-4 defeat on Sunday.
Tucak said, "These are not the best players in the country; I will dismantle the team and make new selections basing on the league which resumes on Wednesday as well as over the weekend,"
"I was given a squad which to me wasn't the best and that's why we lost heavily to Sudan," Tucak added.
Amavubi technical staff takes to selection basing on the league fixtures before naming the 23-man squad which will face Sudan in the return leg.
Amavubi face an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the third round of the Caf Championships of Nations but for Tucak, it's a different story as he is not even assured of advancing to the next stage.
Amavubi team suffered one of their worst away losses in a while with the last one being in 1998 at Nakivubo stadium, Kampala when the late Majid Musisi struck a hat trick with Edgar Watson scoring a brace as Rwanda lost to Uganda 0-5.
Poor tactics, poor organization is what marred the Amavubi team's loss to the Desert Hawks who looked composed and determined.
The results in Khartoum over the weekend meant that Sudan is likely to sweep Rwanda aside after the second leg and qualify to face the winner between Tanzania and Uganda in the finals.
With the Cranes beaten 2-0 in Mwanza on Saturday, Tanzania is favorite to reach the final stage after the second round in Kampala mid this month.
Rwanda will need to 5-0 goal victory or 4-0 to level on aggregate and win on spot kicks so as to reach the next round.
Sudan has emerged as a football powerhouse in the region, qualifying for the 2008 Africa Nations cup in the process.
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Players like Faisal Agab, Richard Gastin, Haitham Mustafa, Haitham Tumbal, and Al Moez Mahgoub are the base of the team that has of recent mapped out a niche of recording good results at home or while playing away.
Faisal Agab is the inspiration of the Sudanese national team with his goal scoring and dribbling skills. He is also Sudan's all time top scorer in African competitions.
The second leg matches have been scheduled for May 16-18, where the finals in Cote d'Ivoire run from February 22 to March 8, next year.
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