Police eliminate APR in Agaciro Devt Fund Cup

Semi-finalsSaturday Police vs MusanzeRayon Sports vs Sunrise Results Police 1-1 APR (pen. 4-2)Rayon Sports 2-1 MukuraAS Kigali 1-2 SunriseMusanze 1-0 Etincelles Police FC defeated rivals APR 4-2 on post-match penalty shootouts yesterday in the second phase of the ongoing Agaciro Development Fund tournament. Midfielder Rachid Kalisa opened the scoring for Police FC before left winger Patrick Sibomana equalised for the army side inside the first 15 minutes. Against a makeshift APR team with half of the team competing at the ongoing East African Military Games in Uganda, Police attacked with intent through both flanks with captain Jacques Tuyisenge and Innocent Habyarimana manning the right and left wings, respectively, but APR’s new signing Faustin Usengimana kept Police forwards in check. Despite holding midfielder Djihad Bizimana playing at right back, left winger Jean Claude Iranzi at left back and right back Michel Rusheshangoga at right centre back, the league champions contained a strongly assembled Peace Cup winners side, at least until the penalties. At half time, Police FC head coach André Cassa Mbungo introduced another 10 outfield players in a bid to evaluate his new 14 signings alongside the ‘old’ players. “We played against a good APR side that had several national team players but we managed to win. I am pleased with the victory but, more importantly, I was able to observe the new players and the progress of the cohesion in both halves,” explained Mbungo. Vincent Mashami, APR’s interim coach, said, “We found ourselves trailing and we had to look for goals, but unfortunately, they didn’t come.” The last time the two sides met was in the Peace Cup semi-finals where the law enforcers saw off the army side 1-1 through an away goal having settled for a stalemate in the return leg. Elsewhere, Nigerian imports Augustin Onyenga and Irehe Emenike netted for Rayon Sports as the Blues defeated Mukura Victory Sport 2-1. Hussein Cyiza scored Mukura’s lone strike. Sunrise FC stunned AS Kigali 2-1 while Musanze saw off Etincelles to set up a date with Police FC in semis. Rayon Sports will meet Sunrise in the other semi-final on Saturday. editorial@newtimes.co.rw