Kopunovic challenges players to win league

MANY Rwandan football fans watch the English Premiership League and they know how Manchester United blew up an eight point lead to allow rivals Manchester City win the league on goals difference on a dramatic final day of the season.

Monday, May 14, 2012
Policeu2019s Serbian coach Goran Kopunovic has challenged his players to stand up and be counted as the race for the league title reaches its climax. The New Times/File.

TodayEspoir    vs    NyanzaAS Kigali    vs    IsongaPolice    vs    MukuraEtincelles    vs    MarinesAmagaju    vs    KiyovuRayon    vs    La JeunesseMANY Rwandan football fans watch the English Premiership League and they know how Manchester United blew up an eight point lead to allow rivals Manchester City win the league on goals difference on a dramatic final day of the season.The scenario is likely to play out in the Primus National Football League after Police FC, who have never won the league and were enjoying a crucial 3 point cushion two weeks ago, lost to minnows Marines on Saturday to gift APR with a realistic chance of winning their 13th league title in 18 seasons.The military side have already played all their matches and currently enjoy a healthy five point lead, but the Law and Order enforcers’ team have two matches in hand against Mukura (today) and Isonga on Saturday, which if they manage to win both, they dethrone APR as Rwandan champions by one point.Going into what is probably not only the biggest game of their season but also Kopunovic’s two-year reign, the Serb told Times Sport yesterday before training that his players need to show their true character today."Life is about working under pressure, so it is not just in football alone. People should remember that it is the first time that Police are in such a situation but that should not be an excuse."To me, we have to play a semi-final tomorrow (today) and a final on Saturday. I will demand that our character and mental toughness reign supreme in these two matches,” Kopunovic, who hopes to become the first coach to lead Police to their first ever silverware in the club’s 11-year existence, said.However, Police may not find winning today’s game any easier against a team lying just one point behind them and harbour high hopes of finishing second.This year’s league has been one of the closest in seven years and it could be headed for a dramatic finish if Police win against Mukura at Kicuriko artificial turf.