Change of guards in France and Rwanda bring mixed fortunes

BY GEORGE KAGAME

Arusha

As it happens the European Championship has caught the fire expected of any big tournament, France and Italy embarrassed by the Dutch and then the Romanians, had the humiliation of facing off to determine who progresses to the quarterfinals.


The latest match between the two giants was extra ordinary in more ways than one an ordinary match by any measure. At the final whistle, Italy had qualified their legitimacy to the world crown and erased any doubts among the French that that the world cup final was cheated by Metarazi's craze that saw legendary Zinedine Zidane sent off at the climax.
That aside, earlier in the week, Amavubi also had reminded us of the glorious days of Tunisia 2004. W


ith Amavubi beating Morocco by a 3.1 score line, they did not not only increase hope in Rwanda’s qualification for 2010, they also added another giant in a long line of causalities. The new generation of Rwandan players will need the momentum as the Amavubi seek qualifications for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and the World Cup in South Africa in the same year. T

hat performance will revive the sporting fortunes of a football mad majority of the Rwandan population. That generation with the emerging talent of midfielder Haruna@@@ @@@could be sparked to greater fortunes in the region.......

Rwanda's defeat of Morocco and Italy's lesson to France made for a wonderful sporting week, as i write Rwanda have returned at least momentarilly the passion that saw a Jimmy Gatete inspired generation which earned the respect of the region's footballing hierarchy, and emphisized Rwanda's seriousness in the East African region.

Of much interest to Ferwafa now and the entire sports fraternity is keeping Rwanda at top spot of the group, It has been a long time since Rwanda was on top of anything sport…… However, the national coach will need more techiniques to motivate the players as other giants accross the continent lost to lesser opponents. Beating Morocco was not that special after all Ghana lost to 'mere' Gabon and champions Egypt were humbled by Malawi.

So as Rwanda's fortunes are in youthful rejuvination, the aspirations of world finalists are in dilema. Last Tuesday, Italy took the entire French national team to the ultimate contest of pride.

Both teams having been used to fighting it out for the ultimate glory on the biggest stage-the 2006 world cup final and the finale of Euro 2000, they are not familiar with battling to avoid the scrap heap in the group stages of a competition that were amongst the favourites to win.

Their clash on tuesday was meant to win the struggle for pride following the events of Germany 2006 and the small matter of getting into the quaterfinals of Euro 2008. Add to that mix the little fact that a hot Holland had scored a humbling seven goals against the now wobbly French and Italians and you have already seen your Hollywood thriller contest in a football match. Italy certainly won the battle against France but definetaly not the war as obtuaries for the aging squad have also sarted flowing in the media.

In the final analysis, the defeat to France exposes the inability of France to do anything without the command of Zidane and shows the weaknesses of legendary premiership talisman Thiery Henry.

Before the retirement of Zidane, it was an open secret that Henry was very jealous of the respect and attention accorded to Zidane, as a result, there was a mini war for influence on the team by the two, it was a consipiracy that was hidden to the media. With Zidane gone, Henry's credential's as a leader, an important team player is now displayed for even the crudest of Arsenal fans to see. Enjoy Euro 2008!

ENDS

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