Sunday
Group A KMC Vs Atlabara 13:00 Rayon Vs TP Mazembe 15:30
Group B Bandari Vs KCCA 13:00 Azam Vs Mukura 15:30
Saturday
Group C APR 1-0 Proline Heegan 0-2 Green Eagles
APR kicked off their bid for a fourth CECAFA Kagame Cup title with a slim 1-0 win over Proline of Uganda at Kigali Stadium on Saturday.
However, despite the home advantage, the three-time winners struggled to impose their game and needed a special second half strike from new signing Thierry Manzi to see off their Ugandan opponents who are debutants in the tournament.
Andrew Buteera, Ally Niyonzima, Olivier Sefu Niyonzima and Djabel Manishimwe bossed the midfield but lacked prowess in attack to trouble Proline goalkeeper Hassan Matovu.
Striker Ibrahim Bongo, who gave APR’s central defence pairing of Thierry Manzi and Ange Mutsinzi a torrid afternoon, twice had Omar Rwabugiri to beat in the 18th and 75th, respectively, but somehow fluffed both chances.
After a goalless first half, in which APR were unconvincing and not looking like breaking down the good-passing Proline side, it only took coach Jimmy Mulisa 90 seconds to make his triple tactical change, bringing on Lague Byiringiro, Yves Mugunga and Kevin Ishimwe for the ineffective Danny Usengimana, Ernest Sugira and Andrew Buteera.
The substitutions made an instant impact as APR started to control the proceedings and Byiringiro almost headed home a looping cross from right-back Fitina Omborenga but his attempt went just wide as goalkeeper Hassan Matovu collided with his defender.
But, Manzi, making his debut for the army side, wearing the number 4 shirt that used to be worn by former defender Herve Rugwiro, showed his teammates how it’s done when he struck home the only – winning – goal in the dying seconds of the match.
The club’s new skipper scored from rebound following Mutsinzi’s stunning free-kick that hit the crossbar from 18 yards, leaving custodian Matovu with no chance whatsoever.
Niyonzima, Buteera, Sefu Niyonzima and Ernest Sugira had their deflected shots tipped over the cross by fantastic Matovu early in the second-half, while the out-of-sorts Byiringiro squandered another inviting cross from Omborenga when a little composure would have seen him open his goal count in the Cecafa Kagame Cup.
APR’s next game will be on Monday against Zambian giants Green Eagles, who began their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Heegan of Somalia, thanks to goals from Kennedy Musonda and Spencer Sautu in the 26th and 51st minutes, respectively.
Rayon Vs Mazembe
In the meantime, Rwandan champions Rayon Sports will have a mountain to climb in their opener when they face African powerhouse TP Mazembe, of DR Congo, in Group A on Sunday.
The game starts 3:30pm, at Amahoro Stadium.
The last time TP Mazembe were in Rwanda, they were expelled from the 2010 Cecafa Kagame Cup following their riotous behaviour in a group match against APR.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com