Sunday

Liga Muçulmana de Maputo vs APR

APR Football Club has appointed Assistant coaches Vincent Mashami and Dusan Duje Suljagic as interim coaches to handle the army side’s Orange Caf champions league opening tie against Mozambique’s Liga Muçulmana de Maputo on Sunday afternoon.

APR head coach Ljubomir Petrovic resigned last week over what he termed as ‘unfulfilled promises’ but the club has strongly denied the allegations by the Serbian coach.

"No one is above the other, they will work together and after we will sit and see if we can appoint another coach or if they can continue,” APR General Secretary Adolphe Kalisa said in a press conference yesterday.

The league champions and table leaders left for Mozambique early this morning two days before the game so that they can acclimatize to the weather in Maputo.

APR is still without veteran goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli, who was ruled out for the season due to a knee injury. But the 30-year-old had successful surgery and is currently under rehabilitation. 

The record 14-time league champions return to the continental competition after a year’s absence. APR has represented Rwanda in the Champions League ten times since their inaugural appearance in 1997 with their best performance being a third round finish in the 2004 season.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Sports and Culture yesterday gave both APR and Rayon Sports Rwf20m each to ease the financial burden of participating in such continental competitions.

APR squad: Olivier Kwizera, Yves Kimenyi, Michel Rusheshangonga, Albert Ngabonziza, Ismael Nshutiyamagara, Herves Rugwiro, Emery Bayisenge, Abdul Rwatubyaye, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Andrew Buteera, Yannick Mukunzi, Hegman Ngomirakiza, Jean Claude Iranzi, Patrick Sibomana, Djamal Mwiseneza, Michel Ndahinduka, Issa Bigirimana and Maxime Sekamana.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw