Prior to the start of the National Football League this season, Police FC claimed to have title intentions but thus far their performance has been short of set targets and the desire to do so. From the entertaining side that football fans keenly followed at the Cecafa Kagame Cup in August to a crestfallen group of uncoordinated players, Police is on the verge of a calamitous season. On Sunday, Police was held to a 1-1 draw by Amagaju, their fifth draw of the season placing them in sixth position on the league log with just 11 points from eight games. Andre Cassa Mbungo’s side commenced the season with a 1-0 win over Gicumbi before thrashing Kiyovu 5-0 inspired by a Jacques Tuyisenge hat-trick. Since then, the law enforcers have failed to win a game including a 1-1 draw against newly promoted side Sunrise in Rwamagana after going down to 10-men in the first half before a goalless draw with AS Kigali. Police was then stunned by Marines 3-1 and has since drawn with APR (0-0) and Mukura (1-1). Mbungo who has been without striker Kipson Atuheire and Mwemere Ngirinshuti among others was forced to deploy Tuyisenge upfront depriving Police of the artful creativity displayed back in August, a feat that saw Police finish third at their debut appearance in the regional tournament. The departure of Jerome Sina and Jimmy Mbaraga deprived the team of both creativity and grit needed to win difficult games. The young tactful coach who signed in August from AS Kigali, a side he took to the third round of the Caf Confederation Cup last season in their debut season believes his side will bounce back. Meanwhile, newly signed coaches Andy Magloire Mfutila of Rayon Sports and Mukura’s Godfrey Okoko did not register debut wins over the weekend after a 2-2 draw against Kiyovu and a 0-2 loss to APR respectively. Mfutila’s side had to come from behind twice to snatch a draw from the claws of a very determined Kiyovu side that had more than a dozen chances to seal victory in the second half. Despite the mediocre performances, both Mfutila and Okoko expect to get better as the season rolls on.
