Following the departure of head coach Dusan Dule Suljagic and the appointment of assistant coach Vincent Mashami to the national team on a permanent basis, APR have named academy coach Emmanuel Rubona as the interim coach.

Rubona is expected to handle today’s training session at the FERWAFA ground as the army side prepare for their second Azam Rwanda Premier League clash against Mukura Victory Sport tomorrow.

The youthful Rubona attended Friday’s session as APR prepared for their encounter against Etincelles in Rubavu on Saturday which they won 1-0 through a lone strike by new signing Djihad Bizimana.

Suljagic guided APR to their record 15th league title in May before losing to Police in the Peace Cup semi-finals. The army side were eliminated from the CECAFA Kagame Cup in July following a 4-0 humiliation by debutants Al Khartoum coached by former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah.

Suljagic quit the army side without notifying his bosses but informed a close friend through a phone call from Istanbul en-route to Serbia, his homeland.

He had taken over from fellow country-mate Ljubomir Petrovic who also left APR without informing his bosses in February. Petrovic is renowned for lifting the European Cup (now UEFA Champions League) with Red Star Belgrade in 1991.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw