APR seek revenge against Vital’O

AL FASHER - Three-time champions APR FC have a chance to rectify what didn’t go right when they crashed out of the African Champions League at the hands of Burundian rivals Vital’O early this year.   The military side face the champions of Burundi in the final Group A match of 2013 Cecafa Kagame Cup on Sunday at Al Fasher stadium.

Sunday, June 23, 2013
Jean-Claude Iranzi (R) has missed APR first two group games and will also skip today's clash with Vital'O but could be available for the quarter-finals. Sunday Sport / T. Kisambira

Group A, SundayVital’O vs APR - 2pmEl Fasher vs Elman - 4pm

Yesterday: Group BExpress 2-1 Rayon SportsElectric Sport 1-3 Ports

Group CAl Ahly 1-1 Al Hilal

AL FASHER - Three-time champions APR FC have a chance to rectify what didn’t go right when they crashed out of the African Champions League at the hands of Burundian rivals Vital’O early this year.  

The military side face the champions of Burundi in the final Group A match of 2013 Cecafa Kagame Cup on Sunday at Al Fasher stadium.

However, all is not well in this tournament so far after they lost 2-1 against Express FC of Uganda in their second Group B match on Saturday, which minimises their chances of reaching the last eight.

Rayon Sports took the lead in the 3rd minute through Gentil Kambale but Express got into the game with two quick goals through Eric Sebuguzi and Roger Kavuma in the 34th and 40th minute respectively. 

In this game, APR will be hoping to kill two birds with one stone by securing a win to topple the group and progress to the last eight and also avenge for their preliminary round loss in the Champions League. 

Both clubs are already assured qualification to the quarter finals after registering a win and a draw in two group matches played so far. 

APR head coach Andreas Spier told Sunday Sport yesterday that they have bigger ambitions in this game. 

We have to finish on top of the group so this means that we are taking the match very seriously. We are looking for a good position but it will also be a good opportunity for my players to have some bit of revenge on the team which eliminated APR in the Champions league.

"Finishing on top of the group will help us to get a fair opponent in the quarter-finals and this is what we will be aiming to achieve on Sunday.” said the German tactician. Spier praised his young squad for putting the 13-time Rwanda league champions into the last eight after showing confidence and determination in their second game against home side El Merreikh El Fasher which is boosts of Ugandan winger Joseph Kabagambe and Nigerian duo of David Nwosou and Williams Adams. However, his opposite number of Vital’O, Gilbert ‘Yaounde’ Kanyankole is unperturbed by APR’s wish for revenge but believes his team has the ability to beat anyone in the competition.

"We are here to play and win and our mission is to finish on top of the log and even though we have one of our key players suspended (Idi Jumapili), I believe we have the edge to still beat APR,” said the former Rayon Sports coach.

In the last game, Nwosou snatched the lead for the hosts in the 58th minute before on-form Hegman Ngoma canceled it out in the 66th minute to power APR into the quarter-finals. 

Ngoma has scored two goals in two matches played in this competition. Impressive attacking midfielder Jean Claude Iranzi is yet to gain form after sustaining a back injury during the 1-0 loss  to Algeria in the 2-14 World Cup qualifier.

In two matches played so far, Iranzi has not been featured.

However, Spier is hoping to have him back for the quarter-finals. 

"He is yet to recover but doctors are working hard on him. He is a good player and we hope to have him back for the next important matches,” he said.