It’s APR's league title to lose

Table leaders APR will be crowned champions if they can avoid defeat in any of their two remaining National Football League fixtures - Isonga and Sunrise. Following their 2-0 win over 10-man SC Kiyovu over the weekend, the army side has 51 points from 24 games, six points above second-placed AS Kigali who were held to a 1-1 draw by Espoir in Rusizi. The champions have won 15 times this season, drawing six and losing only thrice to Gicumbi, Musanze and Espoir despite overcoming an injury crisis at the beginning of the season when they lost eight dependable players to injury and ineligibility. APR head coach Dusan Suljagic explained that, “APR is a serious club with tradition and it was our objective from the beginning of the season that we want to retain the league title. We are almost there and I believe in the players to deliver in the remaining two games.” Against Isonga and Sunrise, APR face this season’s promoted sides, teams they overcame in the first round with 2-0 and 3-1 comfortable wins respectively and Suljagic expects his side to replicate this or even display a better performance in the last lap to a successful season domestically. “We have improved as the season went by and now we are at our peak and this is the most important part of the season because we must finish strong. We respect every team but that does not change our target of eyeing maximum points in each game that we play,” the Serbian tactician said. With archrivals Rayon Sports in a distant fourth position, 14 points behind APR and the inexperienced AS Kigali in second with 45 points following a disappointing set of poor results recently, APR can only blame themselves if they do not clinch a 15th league title this season. AS Kigali lost to Rayon Sports 1-0 a fortnight ago and the 1-1 draw with Espoir in Rusizi over the weekend further dented any available chances of winning their inaugural league title.