Despite winning the 2023/24 Peace Cup that earned them a ticket to the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup, Police FC had a season to forget in the league campaign, prompting football pundits to cast doubts on the qualities that the club possess at their disposal.
Questions surfaced when Vincent Mashami-led side managed only two wins out of a possible 15 matches in the second round of the Primus National League despite investing hundreds of millions in the 2023 transfer market.
A sixth place was nothing but a disappointment and, luckily, Mashami is staying in charge only because he qualified the team to CAF Confederation Cup. A different outcome from the Peace Cup would no doubt see him out of the club.
Police FC have been very active in the transfer market this window as they look to reinforce their squad ahead the coming 2024/25 season.
The club has signed as many as eight players in just the space of a month after they parted ways with 11 players.
Police FC wants a new direction under Mashami and they are not afraid to splash more cash on the market in order to reach their target. They were second best behind APR who beat them 1-0 on Monday, July 1, to lift Amahoro Stadium Inauguration Trophy.
Based on how Police FC’s performance against APR FC, there are still some loopholes in the team. A host of new signings like Christian Ishimwe and Richard Kilongozi made their unofficial debut for the club with some excelling while others failed to impress.
Last season, Police FC biggest problem was their laterals especially on the left side of defense as Derrick Ndahiro who eventually went AWOL. Christian Ishimwe, who joined the club from APR, filled Ndahiro’s void but, still, the problem has now shifted to the right flank.
Goal scorer Gilbert Mugisha tormented Carnot Shami on the right. That was the area from which the winger scored the match winner in the 12th minute and it served as an easy attacking route for APR.
It is evidently clear that Police could suffer with Carnot in right back. The team should get back to the market and sign a perfect fit to avoid defensive calamities next season.
Again, Abedi Bigirimana and Muhadjiri Hakizimana’s midfield partnership has not worked to perfection since last season and Mashami to fix the department and bring in a missing link to create a deadly midfield ready to dominate their CAF Confederation Cup opponents.
And if he opts to use the players he has at his disposal, he must drop one of them for the interest of the team’s outcomes from the pitch.
Both Bigirimana and Hakizimana are natural number 10s. Neither of the two can tackle and, playing them together requires a box-to-box midfielder behind them. He played new boy Henry Msanga as number 6 and he leaked badly It’s too early to judge the Burundian who signed from Flambeau du Centre but Simeon Iradukunda could be their solution if he continues to struggle.
Aside Christian Ishimwe, another new signing who proved his mettle is Richard Kilongozi. The Burundian winger, who joined from Kiyovu SC, was a delight to watch with his deft touches and direct runs on the right flank. He made some good incursions when he came on.
Police FC still has a lot to fix in defense after Ally Kwitonda and Aimable Nsabimana’s pairing at the back looked very shaky. APR could have scored more but they weren't clinical enough to capitalize their chances.
With the arrival of Issah Yakubu, who is very strong in the air, the backline promises to be more stabilized if he gets a great defensive partners from the pair.
In attack, Didier Mugisha is still at the basics but Police are spoilt for choice as they have Peter Agblevor and Elijah Ani who signed for the club from Bugesera FC in June. The Nigerian striker will be eventually available if he fails to pass his professional trials which he is undergoing at Belgian side Charleroi.
In all, Mashami needs to sign a right back to make his team complete. That is the weakest link that his side lacks.