As Police FC prepares to embark on their second appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup, optimism is tempered by the realities of their recent performances and squad dynamics.
The club, despite winning the 2023/24 Peace Cup and securing a ticket to the continental competition, faces considerable doubts about their ability to progress beyond the preliminary round.
For starters, the last season was a tale of contrasting fortunes for Vincent Mashami's side, who celebrated victory in the Peace Cup, but their league campaign left much to be desired, managing only two wins out of 15 matches in the second half of the Primus National League, and finishing disappointingly in sixth place, their worst league position in a long time.
Such inconsistency raises significant questions about their preparedness to challenge perennial local powerhouses APR FC and Rayon Sports for league supremacy.
tasked to steer Police FC through these challenges, Mashami, a former coach of APR and Amavubi, faces pressure to deliver in the continental competition after an underwhelming league performance.
The club's recent activity in the transfer market underscores their ambition to bolster the squad significantly, signing eight new players (so far), which is a proactive approach aimed at addressing identified weaknesses, while also releasing the deadwood.
From some of their matches that I managed to watch from last season, including the Peace Cup final win against Bugesera FC, it was evident that Police FC struggled mostly in defense.
The acquisition of Christian Ishimwe aims to shore up the club’s defensive department, but further adjustments are needed, especially with the added fixtures in the CAF Confederation Cup.
But that will depend on the club's ambitions, not only in the African competition but for the forthcoming season as a whole.
In midfield, the partnership between Abedi Bigirimana and Muhadjiri Hakizimana has yet to yield the desired results.
Both players possess creative flair but lack defensive prowess, necessitating a complementary presence to stabilize the midfield. To the un/less familiar, football matches are won and or lost in the midfield.
In the one match that we have seen Police FC play this offseason, against APR on July 1, at the refurbished Amahoro Stadium, Mashami's tactical adjustments, including experimenting with new signing Henry Msanga as a defensive midfielder, illustrate the ongoing search for cohesion in key areas of the pitch.
Up front, Police FC boasts depth in form of Didier Mugisha, Peter Agblevor and new signing Elijah Ani but they will need better consistency in converting opportunities.
Formidable test
The upcoming challenge against CS Constantine of Algeria in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup presents a formidable test.
CS Constantine, a seasoned competitor in African football, represents a significant hurdle for the Rwanda Peace Cup winners.
Mashami, rightly so, acknowledges the difficulty of the task ahead, emphasizing the importance of good preparations and resilience in navigating the two-legged tie.
Historically, Rwandan clubs have found progression in continental competitions challenging, with Rayon Sports being the only team to have reached the quarterfinals of the Confederation Cup in 2018 before losing 5-1 on aggregate against Enyimba of Nigeria.
Police FC's limited experience at this level further underscores the magnitude of their upcoming challenge.
While there may be optimism within the squad and among a few fans, realistic expectations suggest that advancing past Constantine will require tremendous effort.
Mashami will be looking to guide Police FC in the Confederation Cup with renewed vigor and a strengthened squad, but their prospects beyond the preliminary round remain uncertain.
Strengthening the squad with quantity is one thing as we have seen with Police so far during the current transfer market, but signing quality is a totally different ballgame altogether.
I am confident that my good friend Mashami knows what he's doing and what he needs/requires to succeed in the job.
He knows that addressing defensive vulnerabilities, forging midfield stability, and finding consistency in front of goal are imperative for his team's success.
The club's ambitions are commendable, yet the harsh realities of continental football dictate a cautious approach.
As they prepare to face CS Constantine, Mashami and his team must draw upon collective determination and tactical acumen to defy the football odds and progress in their second African campaign.