Burundi

Hope Team Prove Themselves

Masutane Modjadji is impressed by Burundi's resilient youngsters

They might be a team of youngsters but there is no mistaking that Burundi are determined and always play to win.

The team, also known to their fans as the Hope Team and made up mostly of orphans and refugees, make sure to remind their opponents them that dynamite comes in small packages - as the Australian team learned the hard way, after being beaten 7-2 by Burundi during Friday afternoon's match. Thanks to their young goalkeeper, Bless Manirakiza, Hope Team dominated most of the game.

Manirakiza managed to make saving what looked like dangerous, and powerful, shots seem easy. For a country making a debut in the Homeless World Cup, Burundi have proved themselves to be worthy of the impressive results they have achieved.

During Thursday's victory over Australia four of their seven goals were scored by Husseni Ntahoturi, the hitman who has helped himself to most of Burundi’s goals.

Together with the rest of his team mates, Nsabiyamva Vianney, Bukuru Patric, Butoyin Emmanuel,Nsengiyumva Daniel and Ndikumana Fleury, Husseni made sure that their victory was never in doubt by the final whistle.

"I am so happy and proud that our team made it this far, we are going to the finals now," said the team's assistant coach Amina Mushatsi.

Head coach Chilihwe Mvuyekuru struggled to contain his delight as his team made it to the next stage of the Homeless World Cup.