Rwanda international Muhajiri Hakizimana was among the nine players unveiled on Tuesday by league champions APR FC, despite earlier reports that the former Mukura VS midfielder had joined another league side, AS Kigali. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder signed for the City of Kigali-sponsored AS Kigali in a two-year deal last week, but in a twist of events, reports came out only days later that, APR had also signed him from AS Kigali on loan for the 2016/17 season. According to AS Kigali team manager Joseph Nshimiye, “the two clubs agreed to the player’s transfer to APR on a one-year loan contract and will return to AS Kigali after the 2016/2017 season.” Hakizimana had been signed to boost AS Kigali’s ambitions to challenge for trophies next season, and the question many will ask, is why he was allowed to join a club that is the biggest obstacle to achieving this objective. AS Kigali also sold striker Onesme Twizeyimana to APR—the upcoming forward was the club’s top scorer with 11 league goals last season, and was expected to lead their attack next season following the departure of Ernest Sugira, who joined DR Congo side, AS Vita Club. Hakizimana joins APR, hoping to replicate the form he showed in the 2015/2016 season where he finished as the league’s joint top-scorer with 16 goals to lead Mukura to a third place finish with 60 points, ahead of the likes of AS Kigali, Police FC and Kiyovu. The former Etincelles and Kiyovu SC player, who received his first cap in the senior national team, Amavubi, earlier this year, is also among three players vying for the player of the year award alongside Rayon Sports’ duo of Savio Dominique Nshuti and Burundian, Pierrot Kwizera. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
