APR ready for Express clash

Quarter-finals Today, Al NuggaExpress vs APR 2pmAl Ahly Shandy vs Al Fasher 4pmAL FASHER. Three-time winners APR take on last year’s Uganda Super League champions Express FC in the first quarterfinal of the 2013 Cecafa Kagame Club Championships today at Al Nugga stadium.APR, who finished second in Group A with four points, will go into today’s clash against the Ugandan side knowing the stakes are much higher at this stage than in the previous round. Express finished top of Group B with five points, they beat Rayon Sports 2-1 in the group stage.APR’s head coach Andreas Spier told Times Sport yesterday, “Express is a strong team and traditionally Ugandan teams are strong and difficult to beat.”“But we are very optimistic to qualify to the semi-final. We will be going for nothing less than a win in a bid to reach the next round, the stakes are high,” added Spier.The German tactician, who has a fully-fit squad and no suspensions, will be looking at his young guns to ensure that the military side win the Kagame Cup after enduring an unprecedented trophy-less season back at home.Spier will be looking up to on-form midfielder Hegman Ngoma, who has scored two goals in this tournament and also welcomes back inspirational winger Jean Claude Iranzi, who missed the the group stage with a back injury.Outgoing Express coach, Sam Ssimbwa, who recently penned a two-year deal with Rwanda Police FC, is determined to sign off on a high by guiding the Ugandan team to the title.After yesterday’s training session in hot Al Nugga stadium, the Ugandan tactician said, “We are positive about our chances to qualify but we know it won’t be easy.”“We are facing a team which has been playing in this competition almost every year, while Express have taken so long without participating, but we I believe we will progress,” added the former Atraco FC coach.“We are still unbeaten in the tournament and having beaten Rayon Sports, it gives us more confidence against APR, the two teams are totally different but if we could beat Rayon, I don’t see why we can’t beat APR. We give a lot of respect for them (APR) but no fear,” added Ssimbwa.However, Ssimbwa will be without two key players including midfielder Julius Mutyaba, who twisted his ankle against Electric Sport on Monday and left full back Ismail Kazibwe, who is down with high fever.The second quarter-final will pit the two home sides Al Ahly Shandy and El Merreikh El Fasher. El Merreikh El Fasher boasts of skilled players like Joseph Kabagambe and Nigerian duo of David Nwosou and William Adams, while Al Ahly Shandy were serious campaigners in the CAF Confederation Cup this year.The winner in today’s matches will face each other in the first semi-final match on Friday.