Police, APR face off in winner-take-all league clash
Friday, September 07, 2018
Police (in light blue) overcame arch-rivals APR (in black and white) in a tightly fought 36-31 victory during their league's first-leg clash at Kimisagara Youth Center in March this year. File photo

Saturday

Police           Vs       APR 3pm

Defending champions APR and rivals Police square off this afternoon in the final game of the 2018 National Handball League. The winner will be crowned champions.

The two lock horns at Kimisagara Youth Centre – starting at 3pm.

Prior to the battle of titans today, the law enforcers’ side lead the table standings with 51 points, two ahead of holders.

While the military side seek to win the league title back-to-back for a historic first time, leaders Police have also promised they will fight "with all that we got” to avoid last year’s nightmare when they lost the league’s last match to APR – thus losing the league title they had won in a row the previous three seasons.

"We know that to win the league title, we have to beat Police Saturday (today) and we are ready for the challenge. It is with no doubt that it’s going to be tough but my players are fit and determined, it’s a must-win game for us,” Dismas Turatsinze, Police head coach, told Saturday Sport.

In June this year, Police successfully defended the Genocide Memorial Tournament title after edging APR 29-26 in the final.

In a separate interview, APR coach Anaclet Bagirishya vowed that his side will do everything possible to retain the championship and "the players are well prepared – mentally and physically – to overcome Police.”

However, Bagirishya also admitted that Police are strong opponents and they expect a tough challenge from them as the two teams eye this year’s league title so they can represent the country at the 2019 African Club Championships.

APR won last year’s league title for the first time in eight years and went on to participate in the continental tournament in Hammamet, Tunisia, where they finished bottom without a single win.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw