Rayon beat ten-man APR to retain Agaciro Cup title
Monday, October 01, 2018
Rayon Sports players, joined by some of their fans, celebrate with their trophy and dummy cheque after beating APR 1-0 to retain the title at Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday. Courtesy.

Sunday

Final

Rayon Sports    1-0     APR

Third place play-off

AS Kigali          2-1     Etincelles

RAYON Sports have retained the Agaciro Development Fund Cup title after edging archrivals APR FC 1-0 in the final at Amahoro National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

François ‘Master’ Mugisha netted the lone goal in stoppage time inside the box to send Rayon Sports fans into wild jubilations, thanks to a fabulous assist from Kevin Muhire. The latter made three assists in the tournament and was voted the player of the competition.

Two-time tournament winners Rayon dominated the proceedings in the second half and produced good display as they created several goal chances through Muhire and Bonfils Caleb Bimenyimana, while APR had to dig deep after Herve Rugwiro was sent off with a straight red card for kicking Olivier ‘Sefu’ Niyonzima in the 52nd minute..

Forward Dominique Savio Nshuti had a clear chance to put APR ahead in the 42nd minute but his effort hit the cross bar. He had earlier had another good goal opportunity that was denied by in-form goalkeeper Abouba Bashunga.

Meanwhile, AS Kigali finished in third position after beating Etincelles 2-1 earlier in the afternoon.

Rayon Sports midfielder Kevin Muhire (centre, with dummy cheque) was named the player of the Agaciro tournament whichhis side won yesterday. Courtesy.

The Blues, winners of the 2018 Agaciro Development Fund tourney, won Rwf2m for becoming the champions again. Finalists APR received Rwf1 while the second runners-up AS Kigali walked away with Rwf 500,000.

Last year, then under former Amavubi and APR skipper Olivier Karekezi, Rayon defeated APR 1-0 to lift the inaugural title.

The Agaciro Development Fund football championship is staged annually as part of raising funds towards the Agaciro Development Fund, the country’s sovereign wealth fund.

The idea to set up the Agaciro Development Fund first came up during the 2011 National Dialogue and it was launched in August 2012 to mobilise public savings towards achieving self-reliance and accelerating socio-economic development.

So far, after six years, Rwf51b has been raised.

 

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