Winning the Cup will be Police’s greatest feat

IF Police Football Club does manage to clinch this year’s Peace Cup title, it will arguably represent the greatest triumph for the club in its 11-year existence. Police have never had any success in winning either the Primus league or the Peace Cup. They need to write a new chapter in history and this will only be possible if they succeed in having the MTN sponsored knockout competition crown under their belt.The club reached last year’s final only to lose 4-2 on penalties to APR. So winning it would be regarded as the high point of coach Goran Kopunovic two-year reign. If Police can hold off the threat of the ultra-ambitious, Rwanda’s most successful soccer club, mega rich friends and title rivals APR to win this year’s competition, it will surely be remembered as an historic moment.The club is financially capable and with the monetary burden heaping on clubs like Kiyovu, Rayon Sports, Mukura and all the other teams in the Primus league, it means Police can afford to pay their players’ wages on time and hit the transfer market. The club performed considerably well last season with players like Burundian striker Laudit Mavugo proving deadly in one-on-one opportunities, and when Police’s attack, was clicking so was his precision. If he leaves as per the on-going transfer gossip, it will be a big blow for the team.The club has thrived on many challenges throughout the season, going to within touching distance to claim the Primus league title, their best ever position in the league history. They finished second, behind APR but most importantly ahead of “noisy neighbors” Rayon and Kiyovu.Arguably, now is the perfect turn for the law and order men to try and dislodge the army side from their perch.Having topped the league table for most part of the 2011/2012 campaign, Police believe they can hold off any challenge to win their first ever silverware.Despite the disappointment of missing the league title when it seemed certain it was in theirs to lose with three games left, Goran’s team can be proud of their effort.Defeats to Marines and Mukura meant the club failed to crack the champagne, having managed to stay within touch distance of APR.This season, Police justified their place among the elite teams when they came from behind to beat Rayon 3-2 at Amahoro Stadium, a performance that made the Jean Marie Ntagwabira’s team look novice-like.At some stage, it looked as though Goran’s experience and managerial awareness was going to be enough to cause what looked like a looming shift in the balance of power in Rwandan club football. The club managed to stay within touching distance by dominating APR both in the table and on the pitch, but later found themselves, less in games to go, a few points behind the ARMY side and in charge of their own destiny, but fell short.When they take on Marines in the quarterfinal clash this afternoon, Police will have both the hunger to win and progress to the semifinal and revenge for the defeat in the league, which cost them the league title.If they do claim this year’s trophy, it is likely to merely fuel Goran’s desire to remain as coach for as long as his bosses permit. If he doesn’t win it, it could be the end of his stay at the club with already rumors linking Kiyovu coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga to the job.