The last time APR almost reached the group stages of the African Champions’ League, Olivier Karekezi was a 20-year old emerging talent in a team that was known for its attacking potential and solid defending.
The last time APR almost reached the group stages of the African Champions’ League, Olivier Karekezi was a 20-year old emerging talent in a team that was known for its attacking potential and solid defending.Eight years later after globetrotting, Karekezi, now APR and Amavubi captain, wants his team to score goals and also keep a clean sheet in the first round first leg of this year’s competition against Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel, this afternoon at Amahoro stadium.The military side sneaked past Kenya’s Tusker FC after winning the return leg 1-0 in Kigali, and Karekezi admits the team has not been consistent in scoring goals in the league. The first leg, in Nairobi ended goalless."We have been inconsistent in-front of goal but it is partly down to the league’s competitive nature and teams having better defenders,” said Karekezi, who has scored eight league goals this season.The striker added that coach Ernest Brandts has been giving them tips about the Tunisian side players and how to contain them."Our brief is simple. We need to score goals but also stop them from getting an away goal,” the former Helsimborg IF forward summed up the military side’s task.Luckily for APR, they do not have any injury worries but they face an Etoile du Sahel side that has won the Caf Champions League once, and finished as runners-up twice.APR will also miss the services of the suspended Mbuyu Twite in defence.