Rwanda coach wary of Flames
Rwanda’s Amavubi coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic has warned his charges that the Flames pose a stern test at the 2012 Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Tusker Senior Challenge Cup.
Sredojovic commented on Malawi through Rwanda Times on Tuesday following the Group C draw held in Uganda on Monday ahead of the cup to take place from November 24 to December 8.
“We have the trickiest group in the tournament. It will be three tough games for us. It is going to be tougher than last year. Malawi is very competitive. For the past two years, they have been on brink of qualifying to African Cup of Nations only to lose to Tunisia and Ghana,” Sredojovic is quoted as saying.
Other Group C members are Eritrea and Zanzibar, which the Rwanda coach admitted would also be tough.
“Zanzibar might be seen as a not so strong team, but when they get to the field, they are damn hard to break and Eritrea will all be out for revenge after we eliminated it from 2014 World Cup qualifiers,” the Serbian added on www.newtimes.co.rw
Reacting to the draw on Radio Two FM, Flames coach Kinnah Phiri on Tuesday said his charges would have to be in form to better the quarter-final standards they have achieved in the last two appearances.
On another note, the Flames should aim higher in Uganda as $60 000 (K18 million) is at stake for the champions, $30 000 (K9 million) for the runners-up and $20 000 (K6 million) for the third place. Quarter-finalists will receive $10 000 (K3 million), according to Cecafa general secretary Nicholas Musonye.
The cup’s sponsorship has since been hiked from $400 000 (K120 million) last year to $450 000 (K135 million) this year.
“Matches will be live on SuperSport television and Malawi needs to buy the rights at $15 000 (K4.5 million) if they are to beam the games on local television,” said Musonye.
The Cecafa fixtures have the Flames opening Group C game scheduled for November 26 against Rwanda, then against Eritrea on November 29 and Zanzibar on December 1 at Namboole Stadium in Kampala.
