Police FC head coach Andre Cassa Mbungo has warned his rivals that his side is ready to challenge for trophies as the new season starts on Saturday.

Mbungo said his side is in for the long haul and that they are ready to give APR and Rayon Sports, their main challengers, a run for their money in the title race. Police FC is seeking their first major trophy in the club’s 11-year history. The club finished 3rd in the league last season.

"Although teams like APR and Rayon Sports are favourites to win the league, we want to challenge them just like what we did in the Cecafa Cup,” the former AS Kigali coach said.

The team was outstanding in the Cecafa Kagame Club Championship in August, reaching the semi-finals where they lost to APR on penalty shootouts before going on to take third place after defeating Uganda’s KCCA.

Police will go into the new season a little bit strained after releasing several players, who were deemed to be foreigners the players include fullback Frederick Ndaka, strikers Jerome Sina, Peter Kagabo  and midfielders Moussa Mutuyimana and Mousa Habimana.

The club has a policy of only using Rwandan players however, Mbungo is bullish that the replacements they have signed will fit in well and do the job.

Police has signed up seven players, who include; four from AS Kigali and they are: goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure, left back Mwemere Ngirinshuti, midfielder Eric Ngendahimana and striker Jimmy Mbaraga.

 The others are; full back Mohamed Mpozembizi (Musanze), strikers Idsebald Nshuti (Mukura) and Rachid Kalisa (Esperance).

Police will also be aided by the recovery of winger Innocent Habyarimana and striker Emmanuel ‘Crespo’ Sebanani, who returned after trials in Romania first division side- Bucharest Football Club.