Rwanda – Egypt preview: D-day 1

September 3rd, 2009 | by: Tamim | Comments(15)

So no Mido, no Zaki, no Shikabala, no Zidan, no Barakat, no Fathallah, no Abdel Aziz Tawfiq, no Meteb and probably no Abu Terika…..can it even get worse than that.

I am not trying to disappoint you; in fact, I am somehow optimistic about this game but I guess the question now isn’t who is Shehata going to play with? But is there enough players to play; especially in attack line?

In such a situation, a new generation that can carry the dreams of Egyptian football for more victories for years to come can be born or it can be shattered before it gets the complete chance to prove itself.

I personally criticized Shehata for choosing a player like Sayed Hamdy for the friendly against Guinea but the man proved that he has a farsighted vision as he saw he needed a backup plan for the time in need and this time has actually come; Hamdy along with Ahmed Salama, Doody El Gabas, Ahmed Raouf has the chance of their lives to carve their names and book their place at the National Team and the examples are numerous of substitute players who played by coincidence after the stars got injured and maintained their place and became stars.

For the game, I needn’t to say how much we need the 3 points; basically if we lose, we are out and if we and Algeria lose, it will be even worse as we are flying to Zambia who will have 7 points and a strong chance of qualifying.

If we win and Algeria win then we will have to fight for the 3 points in zambia; if we win and zambia win our game there will be like the mother of all battles.

All in all, the more we win, the more it becomes tougher and tougher but we can say it is the easiest of 3 crucial games in the history of Egyptian football.

Rwanda

A good opponent although sometimes sloppy at defense and almost harmless in offense, the Amavubi will be looking for the 3 points to salvage their chances of qualifying for the African cup and won’t leave the match easily.

However, they are missing some of their stars like Patrick Mafisango and Mbuyu Twite and midfielder, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza.

Goalkeepers: Jean Claude Ndoli (APR), Jean Luc Ndayishimiye (Atraco), Patrick Rutayisire (AS Kigali) and Emery Mvuyekure (Electrogaz)

Defenders: Hamda Ndikumana (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Ismail Nshutiyamagara (APR), Bonaventure Hategekimana (Rayon Sport), Aloua Gaseruka (Atraco), Elias Ntaganda (APR), Aimable Rucogoza (Rayon), Donatien Tuyizere (Atraco), Jean Bosco Uwacu (APR),Arafat Serugendo (APR), Albert Ngabo (Rayon)

Midfielders: Eric Gasana (APR), Jean Mugiraneza (APR), Mutesa Mafisango (APR), Haruna Niyonzima (APR), Pekeyake Tuyisenge (Rayon), Yussuf Ndayishimiye (Rayon), Jean Pierre Hakiri (Rayon), Jamal Mwiseneza (Rayon) and Jean Shyaka (Atraco), Abdul Uwimana (Rayon Sports)

Strikers: Olivier Karakezi (Ham Kam, Norway), Saidi Abedi Makasi (Difaa El Jadida, Morocco) Bokota Labama Kamana (APR), Elias Uzamukunda (APR), Saidi Abed Makasi (Union), Jimmy Gatete (Rayon)

Having the advantage of playing at their home ground in front of an ever enthusiastic African fans eager to humiliate the African champions and end their dreams of a world cup appearance and more; take revenge after, according to many Rwandan fans, an unfair loss back in Cairo.

Branco Tucak, their coach, said at the press conference after the Cairo game that his team didn’t deserve to lose and “the referee helped us” and pledged that his team would be a real threat in the return game.

Egypt

One can’t but petty Shehata for the situation he is facing now….with this shortage in strikers, he is forced to play with talented but inexperienced strikers which we all hope will be up to the challenge; adding insult to injury, he had to give up one of his defenders, Fathallah, for a long term injury and replaced him with Motasem Salem but this wasn’t just enough now he is risking Abu Terika and Barakat.

Not to mention, the out of form couple of Hosni and Shawky.

In such circumstances, any 11 player should realize the importance of the event and the critical situation we are in,

However, I should say that if any player gets injured during the game, there won’t be a substitute so everyone should better look out for themselves.

Worth mentioning, our away records isn’t that encouraging but history taught us that when we concentrate and play our football, we can dominate and win; in Congo for example, in front of 70 thousand fans we played our short passing ball and scored once and could have scored more.

The key is to defend well and not concede then dominate at midfield; counter attacks will be essential and shots from far maybe our winner as the Rwandan keeper proved to be a failure in them.

If we can score early, we would control; that’s in case we avoid making stupid mistakes like guinea’s match.

Predicted eleven:

…………………………….….El Hadary……….…………
El Mohammadi…….Gomaa……H. Said……Oka……S.Moawad
……………….Fathi……..Hosni……….Shawky……………
……………………….Abu Terika………………
………………Sayed Hamdy………………….

The match

It is going be an open and fast one; individual skills will make the difference and missed chances maybe regretted heavily; also the team with the best fitness, may change the result to his advantage.

One last point, the match is played at noon which means the players should be fasting. I don’t want join the silly debate about whether the players should fast or not because it is a personal issue and they are free to make their choices. The last thing we need is to put more pressure pm.

Prediction: 3 points!!

Where to watch: help?

So enjoy the game and pray for the 3 points……..Ramadan Kareem