"As I said before the match that we were playing against one of the stronger teams in this part of Africa, they played good football and scored their goal through a penalty.
We have a return leg at home and this is our main focus now, the most important thing is on how we will get back so that, in the end, we can earn a chance of progressing into the next stage."
These were the exact words of APR FC head coach Darko Novic after his side’s 1-0 loss to Tanzanian giants Azam FC in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round knockout stage first leg game at the Azam Sports Complex on August 18.
The experienced Serbian gaffer has been under intense pressure from the fans of the Lions following his side’s unimpressive off-season performance. They lost on penalties to Zambian outfit Red Arrows in the final of the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup, then fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Simba SC in the Simba Day Cup before capping off their poor pre-season run with another shock 7-6 penalty shootout loss to Police FC in the FERWAFA Super Cup.
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All these results did not go down well with the fans as they think, with the huge investment that the club has made in recruiting a host top foreign players during the transfer window, they deserved the best let alone losing games even in penalties.
You cannot begrudge APR FC supporters; these are fans who are used to winning though mostly on the domestic front. The next focus now is on Africa club competitions and that is why Novic, who has a huge coaching expertise, having handled the likes of ES Setif, US Monastir and others, was brought in to take over from Thierry Froger.
One main problem which has been the bane to APR's success since his appointment is ‘biased team selection’. The Serbian has been criticized for getting his first eleven wrongly especially in midfield which makes the team start games on the wrong foot.
After much bashing, he got his selection correct against Azam FC in the first leg. APR were a delight to watch and there was dynamism in the team. It took a 55th minute penalty from Jhonier Blanco for the Tanzanians to win the day.
Yes! A defeat is a defeat but comparing the game against Azam to other games, the loss in Tanzania was the best game the army side have played under Novic.
The wily Serbian tactician has no excuse to falter at home against the Tanzanian outfit in Kigali. He must build on the performance of his charges in Tanzania and get the needed results.
The ugly spectre of penalty shootout might be haunting the APR players after defeats to Red Arrows and Police FC. Novic must do everything possible to win the game by a two goal margin in regulation time and avoid the penalty shootouts.
Notwithstanding, Azam FC won't come easy. Knowing they have a narrow 1-0 lead to protect, coach Youssouph Dabo has already made his intentions for the second leg known.
"APR is a tough team with a well-organised defence that does not concede many goals. The situation will change when we play in Rwanda, where they will have to open up their game, but which might at the same time create opportunities for us,” Dabo told the press.
"We need to stay mentally strong and continue to play our game. We have the quality to win in Rwanda and we must focus on that.”
With these assertions, coupled with what he said earlier, Dabo will just sit back deep, defend and try to catch the Rwandan champions on counter attacks when the two teams face off at Amahoro Stadium on Saturday, August 24.
He hopes to get the needed results to eliminate APR through this system. Novic, as experienced as he is, should be able to go all out and get the required results to qualify.
It is early days yet, Novic signed a three-year contract with APR and he hasn't even completed a quarter of it. However, this game against Azam could determine his long term future. Don’t be surprised if the club top hierarch shows him an exit door if he fails not only to eliminate Azam but to qualify them to the group stages.