APR FC chairman, Col Richard Karasira says the main task is to build a solid team that is good enough to compete against Africa's elite clubs. APR showed good character during 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup despite losing the trophy to Zambian outfit Red Arrows on penalty shootouts. Both sides had played a 1-all draw in regulation and extra time before the army side lost 10-9 on penalty shootouts in the final at KMC Stadium in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. ALSO READ: Can APR break the psychological barrier in the CAF Champions League? It wasn’t a loss for the army side at all with club chairman Col Richard Karasira looking at the team’s ambitions beyond just the regional club football competition. Karasira said his main focus remains primarily on building a tough APR side and turn it into a strong and respected football force in Africa just like the likes of CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns or Moroccan giants Wydad AC among others. “We are interested in building a great and respected team. Fans are curious and I understand them very much. They want happiness and so is the club management. A lot of people from across the globe want to see a strong team,” said Karasira who took charge of the club chairmanship since June 2023. The goal is to build a good, solid team ready to perform better in African competitions. No one is imagining that we can do better so we have to keep working hard, build a strong side which can make the difference and turn doubters into believers,” he added. Many believed that CECAFA Kagame Cup was a good test for APR FC to examine their current status before embarking on their 2024/25 CAF Champions League campaign. They will face Tanzanian outfit Azam FC in the round of 32. Karasira agrees that the tournament enabled the team to prepare well for the new season where new and current players as well as head coach Darko Novic got used to each other. He continued to ask the fans to continue to support ‘their team’ and promised that the management will play its part and do everything possible to make them happy. What we ask of fans is to continue to support the team in every possible way, stay closer to the team and I have a feeling that we will in return make them happy, he noted. APR FC have signed a host of new players including Ghanaian duo Richmond Lamptey and Dauda Yussif, Malian striker Mamadou Sy and homegrown players Frodouard Mugiraneza, Gilbert Byiringiro and Olivier Dushimimana among others. With the CAF Champions league now around the corner, the club is looking to get through the group stages for the first time after years of unimpressive performances.
