APR new signing Ernest Sugira could spend up to six months out of action after the striker suffered a tibia fracture injury on the left leg while training with Amavubi on Tuesday at Kigali Stadium.

The 26-year-old picked the injury in an on-ball clash with defender Soter Kayumba during training ahead of the second leg of 2018 CHAN third round qualifier against Uganda on Saturday. Uganda lead 3-0 from the first leg played in Kampala last weekend.

Sugira’s injury is the worst possible news for Amavubi coach Antoine Hey, whose team continues to struggle in-front of goal, and will be required to score three or more goals in Saturday’s clash.

"Sugira has suffered a fracture in his left leg on tibia (spiral) and he will be out for up to five and six months. It is a bad injury,” Amavubi doctor, Patrick Rutamu, told Times Sport on Wednesday.

In a separate interview, Sugira, who signed a one-year contract with APR FC just last week, said he feels frustrated because the recovery period will be very long.

"I am disappointed because the injury is going to derail my performance due to missing a lot of games, but I just have to be calm and go through the treatment until when I recover. I believe I will come back stronger,” said the former AS Muhanga and AS Kigali forward.

During training, Sugira and Kayumba jumped to contest an aerial ball but the striker landed awkwardly on his left leg leading to the fracture.

Spiral fracture can be displaced or stable, depending on how much force causes the closed fracture: With this injury, the broken bones do not come out of the skin.

Sugira signed for the reigning Peace Cup champions APR last week as free agent from DR. Congo side AS Vita Club. He joined Amavubi training camp on Monday morning.

Amavubi will host Uganda looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg played last Saturday at St Marys Kitende Stadium.

Now, Hey will be looking to use Rayon Sports Gilbert Mugisha, APR FC and Police youngsters Innocent Nshuti and Christophe ‘Abeddy’ Biramahire to try to overcome what looks like an uphill task.

Hey will also be without experienced center-back Aimable Rucogoza and striker Bernabe Mubumbyi for the second leg after they both received second yellow cards in the first leg.

However, team captain and first choice goalkeeper, Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye will be back after missing the first leg against Uganda through suspension.

The third round winners will qualify to represent the East and Central African Zone at next year’s finals tournament, alongside hosts Kenya.

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