The best players who could not be determined in several training camps held by the team in France, Germany and Phoenix were determined in Taos thanks to its high-altitude weather which is more like what they will experience in Pachuca, venue for their Group C matches in the Fifa U17 World Cup finals.
Naming the team, Tardy said, “The team was determined after a week-long of intensive training here in Taos. Players named have been able to impress and worked out hard for them to be in final team in several of the training camps that we have held. “I have no doubt in every member who has made it to the final team and by the time we leave Taos, the team will be in good shape to stage a successful World Cup debut in Mexico,” added Tardy.
Among the players who were named, only three players (Arsenal U16 striker Alfred Mugabo, Express FC midfielder Farouk Saifi Ruhinda and SEC academy defender Eugene Habyarimana) earned their maiden call to the national team while the rest had previously played for Rwanda in international friendly matches and Africa U17 Championships.
Assistant captain Faustin Usengimana said on Sunday that they have gotten used to the weather and sounded confident ahead of their Group C action in the Fifa U17 World Cup final.
“We have gained a lot in the time we have spent here in Taos. We thought the weather would hinder our preparations but thanks to God because we have adapted to the high-altitude training and our performance in both the training and friendly matches promises big for our country and enthusiasts in the upcoming World Cup,” said Usengimana.
The team has not only acclimatized with the weather but they have even adapted to both the meals offered by Sagebrush hotel and supporting care from Sports Alliance CEO Joel Israel who has availed everything either at the hotel or at the playing field to make the team comfortable.
For starters, the Junior Wasps have so far won two friendly matches against Rio Vista U19 3-1 and Classic Gladiators 3-0. Enroute to Taos, Rwanda U17 started preparations for the World Cup in February this year, one month after the Africa U17 Championship concluded in Kigali.
In April, the team held a three-week camp in France where they played several matches against different French youth clubs. On May 18, they played a goalless draw against Tottenham Hotspur U18 before heading to Hennef, Germany, for a one-week training camp.
In Pachuca, Mexico, Rwanda is grouped alongside England, Canada and Uruguay. Rwanda advanced to the World Cup final in African qualifying before losing to Burkina Faso, a team it had beaten in the opening game. The top two teams in Group C will advance to the knockout quarter-finals. this story was first published by The Taos News
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