The Rwanda National team “Amavubi” was called up to start the camp in preparation of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign, and the camp started on 05th November at Sainte Famille Hotel. The journey was curiously interested since the team had a new head coach who had been appointed to be the Head Coach Mr. Frank Torsten Spitler.
The camp has been amazingly conducted by the coaches,
players and staff working tirelessly to improve the squad and on13th November
the team travelled to Huye, where the matches had to take place, and in the
first place two players were dropped namely MUGUNGA Yves and IRADUKUNDA Elie
Tatou who, despite their efforts to make the squad better were not fitting
enough in the plan of Mr. Frank who had started to explore the individual
abilities of his players.
Days went on, tough and intense trainings continued including the unusual ones such as Yoga exercises, and players started to get used to the philosophy of the new coach, who was and still more focused on the results, and the first match came.
The results of the first match came out as a goalless draw
and Rwanda felt the pressure if having not given enough, which fueled their
selfless efforts to improve in the next game. I remember the quietness, the
calmness, and the silence in the bus on the way coming back to Kigali. When one of the captains told his fellow,
that bad days shall pass and that they need much focus on their following game.
Trainings focusing on correcting the first mistakes were
tough but promising, when outside the critics of not winning the game were
everywhere in people’s minds, conversation, and Media contents (which in real
sense shows the love of the team y Rwandans) and the players and the staff,
were taking every single detail into consideration.
The 21st of November was the day to prove what
the boys have been learning and correcting. The day was so cloudy, rainy, and
windy, which made the boys want to fight for the glory, because they already
knew what came out the other games and they understood well that if they win
the match against the Bafana Bafana, they were going to top the table.
The match started and within only 25 minutes, Rwanda had
scored two goals, one on 13th minute scored by Nshuti Innocent and
the second by Mugisha Gilbert, the result then remained intact until the final
whistle and the glory days came back.
From a simple citizen of Rwanda to the big names have been then showing support and expressing their gratitude for the boys and wishing them the very best in the future.
After the game, the coach expressed his gratitude for the
players, staff, and the football leadership through FERWAFA and the Ministry in
charge of Sports. “It is a better step to build on a glorious and victorious
future in our football development.” Coach Frank added.
Rwanda leads in the same Group with South Africa, Nigeria, Lesotho, Benin and Zimbabwe, and next year in June Rwanda will visit Benin and Lesotho.
