Police FC sack Goran a month before his contract expires

SERBIAN coach Goran Kopunovic has ended his three-year stint with Primus National Football League side Police FC. Goran was issued with a termination letter by Police FC administrators on Friday just over a month before his contract runs out on July 21. Speaking to Sunday Sport yesterday, Goran said: “The last three seasons were amazing for me. They were one of the best times for me in Rwanda. I made a lot of friends whom I will never forget. “I am happy that I have managed to improve Police FC year after year though I never helped them win any silverware. “I believe Rwandan football is heading to a pleasing level. The competition is high and what is more interesting is that Police, Mukura and AS Kigali are eager to battle it out against APR and Rayon Sports for the trophies,” added Goran. The Serb joined Police three years ago and transformed the team from an average side to a formidable challenger for both the league and Peace cup trophies. In his debut season, Kopunovic guided the law enforcers to a third place and a slot in the Peace Cup final where they lost to APR 4-2 in extra-time. In the 2011/12 season, Kopunovic pushed APR to the limit for the league title before his side folded and also lost the Peace Cup final 2-1. Police were also given their first taste of continental football by Kopunovic, although the team didn’t go past the first round. In the 2012/13 season, he managed to help Police finish runner-ups to Rayon Sports, who won their first league title in nine years. Police FC are expected to announce former Express FC (Uganda) coach Sam Ssimbwa as the Serbian replacement anytime soon. Ssimbwa, who has been jobless since January after amicably parting ways with Ugandan University side SC Victoria, is set to commence his duties at the kick off of the 2013/14 Primus National Football League season. It will be Ssimbwa’s second stint as coach in Rwanda after managing Atraco FC [defunct] in 2006 but never won any silverware with the club before he was sacked.