APR Football Club’s new signings, Jean Claude Iranzi and Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, have said they returned to the military side to win silverware.

It is reported that Iranzi signed for Rwf30m from Zambian Premier League outfit Zesco United while Mugiraneza signed for Rwf20m from Gor Mahia of Kenya.

The two Rwanda internationals signed a two-year contract, both on a salary of US$1500 (about Rwf1.3m) per month.

Iranzi says that he is returning to APR to win trophies, "It is a pleasure for me to be back home; I have been trying outside but now I am happy to return home and help the club to challenge for trophies.”

"I am glad that the club has done everything possible to bring me back and I hope I can help the team improve and be at the level we are used to, it is always good to be back home and I hope we will continue to move from strength to strength,” he added.

The 27-year-old left winger began his career with Esperance Academy in 2000 before joining SC Kiyovu in 2004 where he spent four years and later APR FC in 2008.

Iranzi joined Slovakia third division side MFK Topvar Topoľčany before returning to Africa joining Zambia’s topflight league side Zesco United six months ago on a two-year contract.

Migi speaks out

In a separate interview, Mugireneza said that he has come back to help APR "return to where they belong” challenging and winning trophies.

"APR is the biggest club in Rwanda, and I am happy to be back here. I’m looking forward to improve and help the club win trophies. This is my home and I am here to help the young players,” Mugiraneza said.

Mugiraneza, 27, added that, "I am happy to rejoin such a big club. I want to repay the club management for putting a lot of faith in me, and the many fans that turned up to receive me.”

Mugiraneza began his career at SC Kiyovu before signing for APR FC in 2007. In February, 2009 he was linked with a move to French club Stade Rennais but nothing came out of it.

In 2015, Mugiraneza left APR to join Tanzanian Premier League side Azam FC but after just one season, in December 2016, he was released and he signed for Gor Mahia.

Mugiraneza made 20 appearances for SC Kiyovu without scoring a goal and went on to play 102 games for APR FC, scoring 20 goals, while at the international level; he has played 27 matches and scored 6 goals.

The military side, third in the league table with 18 points, two behind SC Kiyovu and one behind second placed AS Kigali and preparing to compete in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

The 2017 Peace Cup winners will face Seychelles league side Anse Reunion in the preliminary round of the competition with the first leg due on the weekend of February 9-11, 2018. The second leg will be played in Kigali a fortnight later.

APR FC head coach Jimmy Mulisa told Times Sport that the recruits are good and experienced players. "To sign them, is a big boost for our young players. They will help us to improve and they are both willing to improve. I hope they will boost the club’s ambition of winning silverware,” Mulisa told Times Sport.

Meanwhile, APR have also been heavily linked with another Rwanda international Dominique Savio Nshuti from AS Kigali but all parties involved have yet to come clear on this transfer.

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