All eyes on APR

As league champions go on history changing mission in Tunis CAF Champions LeagueMarch 4Club Africain vs APR TheY may be running away with the league title but APR are set to face their biggest challenge next week on Friday when they play Club Africain in the return leg of the champions league.The military side drew with the Tunisian side 2-2 early this month and only a win can see them through to the next round. APR so far has a 100% record in the league this season, with two games to the end of the first phase and are overwhelming favorites to win a 12th league title in just 16 years.But according to Patrick Mbarushimana, who has been supporting the army side for the last 14 years, the club needs to translate their local dominance to continental competitions. “I think our league is very weak because [APR] always wins it year in year out, but when it comes to continental competitions, they struggle,” noted Mbarushimana, whose comment echoes that of thousands of the club faithful. APR leaves for Tunis on Tuesday afternoon and plays the North African side on Friday evening, with a mountain to climb if they can reach the first round proper.APR’s best campaign in the Champions League was in the 2004 season when they reached the third round under the stewardship of Jean Marie Ntagwabira, now at SC. Kiyovu who are second to APR in the national league. Since then, the country’s most successful club has faltered in the continent’s elite competition though the club’s Secretary General Adolphe Kalisa is confident the team can negotiate its way past the Tunisians in their own backyard. “Last year we drew with Angolan club Recreativo de Libolo 2-2 in Kigali, and many people did not give us a chance in the return tie, but we defeated them in their own backyard. “So we are confident we can do that again,” Kalisa said, insisting that they have players to lead the club to the knockout stage, where no Rwandan club has ever reached. With Etincelles already out of the Caf Confederations Cup, Rwanda’s hopes are now hanging on APR’s mercy. However, Rwandan teams’ dismal record against Arab teams doesn’t inspire so much confidence as far as APR’s chances of winning in Tunis are concerned.The reason the club’s Dutch tactician Ernest Brandts is under no illusion about the huge task ahead of him and his players. “We did not defend well in the first leg and that is what we need to do in Tunisia. We have to score and make sure we don’t concede,” Brandts summarized his team’s game plan.Brandts joined the military side last season with a major brief of taking the club to the knockout stages for the first time, and he is adamant that it is very feasible this year.The Dutchman will however be relieved with the news that his key players Abbas Rassou (striker) and Didier Logba (midfielder) have returned to full training after missing the last couple of weeks with injuries. Goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli and defender cum winger Albert Ngabo also started training yesterday after minor knocks.Tough times aheadAPR’s predicament mirrors the national team’s current situation. Despite getting a high profile coach in Sellas Tetteh, who won the African and World U-20 titles with Ghana in 2009, Amavubi have been far from convincing. The wasps have produced dismal performances in Cecafa, where they were edged out in the quarter-finals, and the CHAN championship, where they failed to win any of their 3 group matches. The biggest test for Tetteh and Amavubi is in the 2012 Nations Cup qualifying campaign, where they sit bottom of Group H after losing their first two qualifiers against Ivory Coast (away) and Benin (at home). Amavubi next plays neighbors Burundi next month in Kigali in a match the hosts cannot afford to lose or draw.For Amavubi to entertain any chances of playing at their second Nations Cup finals, they have to win their remaining qualifying matches against Burundi (H and A), Benin (A) and a star studded Ivory Coast (H). The Wasps’ current predicament can best be illustrated by last month’s FIFA rankings, where they dropped to an all time low of 132.However, Tetteh believes that not all is gloom for the national team and is predicting a turnaround starting with a win over Burundi. “We need a win against Burundi to restore our fortunes and am confident we can get that,” the 54-year-old said. Ends