Ntagwabira promises fair game against APR

If there is one coach in this country who knows how and has a cause to beat APR, it’s Atraco’s Jean-Marie Ntagwabira.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008
NO WAY: Rayon Sport captain Jean Lomami was completely marked out of the game on Tuesday by Atracou2019s Tom Ssemwogere. Atraco beat Rayon 2-1 to set up a meeting with APR in tomorrowu2019s Peace Cup final. (Photo / G. Barya).

If there is one coach in this country who knows how and has a cause to beat APR, it’s Atraco’s Jean-Marie Ntagwabira.

Tomorrow’s meeting between the two rivals in the final of the MTN Peace Cup will bring back lots of memories (bad and good) in either camp hence putting a lot at stake in this particular game.

Since Ntagwabira, a former APR coach joined Atraco at the start of last season; the two sides have met five times with Atraco winning on three occasions against two for APR.

Tomorrow’s meeting will not only be the sixth but also a moment of truth for either coach to show their supremacy against their main rivals to winning a double this season.

"I am delighted that it’s Atraco and APR andnot another team playing in the Amahoro Cup final.

"This cup means a lot to both teams than any other team in the country,” the Atraco coach told Times Sport after his team come from behind to beat Rayon Sport 2-1 in Tuesday’s ‘voodoo-charged’ semi-final.

He added, "People should come in big numbers and watch a fair game of football. Both Atraco and APR play good football that’s why I promise that the final will be played in a fair condition.”

The ex-Rwandan international is seeking his maiden silverware with Atraco, having won a couple with APR and he thinks this year’s Peace Cup is his best chance to have a shot at one.

"It will be a cup final between the top two teams in the league but we need to win it as it could be our best chance to play on the continent next year.

"If we win it and APR wins the league, we play in the Confederations cup and if APR wins it and the league, we’ll still have the chance to play on the continent for finishing second in the league,” he admitted.

Last year, Ntagwabira was on the bad end of a 1-0 defeat against APR in the final, who went on to win double and he believes tomorrow’s game will the ultimate moment to have his revenge.

The defending champions made little of Kiyovu as they cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory.

Ends