After dismal Cecafa display

APR coach Ernie Brandts has declared his first season with the club a success despite premature exits in the Orange Champions League and Cecafa Kagame Cup.

The 53-year-old who joined the military side last season on a two-year-contract was tasked to end the club’s chronic under performance on the big stage (continental level).

But like previous seasons, APR endured another premature exit after being ejected by Tunisia’s Club Africain. On Saturday, they hit the exit of the Cecafa Cup after failing to progress past the group stage.

However, the Dutchman maintains that he is still the right man for the job and that the club has a bright future despite losing influential winger Haruna Niyonzima to Yanga.

"It is unfortunate that he has decided to move to another club but we must move on. This club needs new blood in the squad, because some times when players win too much, they become complacent,” he noted.

"We need to revamp the whole squad.”

For their dismal display in Cecafa, Brandts blamed it on complacence and bad luck.
"The players were sloppy in all the three games and paid the penalty. Hope we all learnt something from this performance.”

The former Netherlands striker has now tipped Yanga of Tanzania and Sudan’s El-Mereikh to go all the way in the regional competition.

The quarter-finals kick off today with a clash between Ugandan champions Bunamwaya and Simba of Tanzania.

Ulinzi of Kenya also plays El-Mereikh of Sudan.

On Wednesday, Yanga host Red Sea, while Burundi’s Vital O’ are up against last year’s finalists St.George.

Quarter-finals

Today

Bunamwaya vs Simba
Ulinzi vs El Mereikh
Wednesday
Yanga vs Red Sea
Vital’O vs St. George