For the first time in many years, champions APR will start the 2011/12 season without playing any build up matches.

The military side has 12 players yet to report back for pre-season training, although majority of them are in the Amavubi provisional squad, which is in residential camp ahead of tomorrow’s crunch 2012 CAN qualifier against Ivory Coast at Amahoro stadium.

The players in the Amavubi squad are; Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Jean Claude Ndoli, Albert Ngabo, Donatien Tuyizere, Ismail Nshutiyamagara, Heriman Ngoma and Jean Claude Iranzi.

While as team captain Mbuyu Twite and his twin brother Kabanga are still on holiday in their native DR Congo, the same applies for the Malawian duo of Elvis Kafoteka and Victor Nyirenda.

APR secretary General Kalisa Adolphe told this paper Wednesday that the club had delayed to start pre-season training and ruled out the possibility of playing friendly matches before the new season gets underway on September 17.

"Most players delayed coming for pre-season training because of their national team commitments, while the others played for the club in the EAC military games. So we are not worried about their fitness.

But there will be no friendlies this time.” Kalisa said.

The club had originally planned to play two friendly matches against local and foreign teams.

With just seven days before the transfer window closes, the club has only made two signings who are Habib Kavuma and Dan Wagaluka and agreed terms with former players Jimmy Mulisa and Olivier Karekezi.

The club is yet to renew contracts for players like Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Albert Ngabo, Jean Claude Ndoli, Jean Marie Vianney Rukundo, Jean Luc Ndayishimiye alias Bakame, Hegman Ngoma, Ivorian Landry Logba as well as Malawi international Tchimanga Mutamba.

Ends