Tenth title for APR and still counting…

Military side APR Fc were for the 10th time crowned champions of the Rwanda national league on Thursday after a dramatic final day of the season.

Saturday, August 01, 2009
AIR BORNE: Jubilant APR fans lift their coach Erik Paske high in the air after the Dutchman led the military side to the league title on the last day of the season. (Photo: P. Ntambara)

Military side APR Fc were for the 10th time crowned champions of the Rwanda national league on Thursday after a dramatic final day of the season.

Their rivals and front runners for the title, Atraco Fc, who had to win their last game to clinch the title settled for a goalless draw with lowly Marines Fc and successfully surrendered the title.

Kabange Twite (41) and Labama Bokota Kamana (77) scored the two important goals that handed Erik Paske’s side maximum points.

Playing against a Mukura side that dumped them out of the MTN Peace Cup three days earlier, APR started off strongly with a quick interchange of sublime passes between Djbril Mutarambirwa and Haruna Niyonzima.

But they had to wait until the 41st minute to get a breakthrough score as Kabange capitalized on a defensive mix-up in Mukura defence to head in from close range.
The visitors were however, reduced to ten men after Serugendo was sent off on the 57th minute for a second bookable offence.

Bokota calmed the nerves in the APR camp after rounding Mukura goalie Sebastien Habimana and putting the ball in an empty net.

"My players seemed to have been distracted by the impending MTN Peace Cup final game, the goals we conceded were as a result of lack of concentration at the back line,” said Bizimana.
APR manager Alphonse Gatera said, "It was a difficult season for us but we glad that it has ended well.”

For Bizimungu, the focus turns to today’s final of the MTN Peace Cup where they meet with CECAFA Club champions Atraco at Amahoro stadium.

Ends