Mashami insists ‘regrouped’ Police are still in the title race
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Police FC head coach Vincent Mashami during the game against Gorilla Fc at Muhanga Stadium on Friday. Mashami has fired a warning to rivals that his side has not given up on the title race. Courtesy

Police FC head coach Vincent Mashami has fired a warning to rivals that his side has not given up on the title race.

The recent addition of Muhajiri Hakizimana gave the former Amavubi tactician a boost of confidence that it's too early to decide who will win the race to the title.

The forward was on target as the law enforcers on Friday beat Gorilla 3-2 in Bugesera to close the gap to the top by seven points and, with the result, Mashami believes the race for the Rwanda Premier League could go right to the wire.

"I am happy that we are still in the title race at this stage, we are doing everything possible to stay close to the leaders,” he said.

"We are happy for this win; Gorilla are a very good team with probably the experienced coach in the league, so to beat them is something we have to be proud of because it gives us more confidence going forward,” he added.

With the likes of Gasogi United, reigning champions APR in fourth, last season’s Peace Cup winners AS Kigali in second and Rayon Sports all breathing down table leaders SC Kiyovu’s neck, the season is turning out to be the tightest race in years.

Of the six teams occupying the top six places, APR and Rayon have the most experience in the league, having won it on more occasions than anyone else.

However, both Police and AS Kigali, Kiyovu and Gasogi are threatening to gatecrash this exclusive class.

Mashami, who won the league with APR during the 2014/2015 season, is now looking to write his own story as he pushes to become the first coach to win the league title with Police, a club that has never won a league title.