BRAZILIAN internationals Douglas Lopes Carneiro, Diego Oliveira Alves and Alex de Avila Peixoto have been named in APR’s Orange CAF Champions League. But Preux Leonel Saint, who joined recently from Thailand’s Rattan Bundit misses out due to technicalities in acquiring an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
BRAZILIAN internationals Douglas Lopes Carneiro, Diego Oliveira Alves and Alex de Avila Peixoto have been named in APR’s Orange CAF Champions League.
But Preux Leonel Saint, who joined recently from Thailand’s Rattan Bundit misses out due to technicalities in acquiring an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
Other notable players in the 23-man squad include the in-form Olivier Karekezi, former Bunamwaya defender Habib Kavuma, Ugandan international Dan Wagaluka and the Burundian pair of Faty Papy and Selemani Ndikumana.
After bolstering the squad in the transfer window, APR Secretary General Adolphe Kalisa is convinced the team can go the distance this year.
Despite dominating the league and winning regional tournaments, the team has come under scrutiny from the fans for failing to replicate that form on the big stage.
"I know that the team has struggled to find their feet in the Champions League over the years but we have beefed up the squad and are backing ourselves to reach the group stage this year,” the official said.
Last season, APR crashed out in the first round after losing to Tunisia’s Club Africain (2-6) on aggregates. The previous year, DRC’s TP Mazembe ejected the army side in the second round of the competition.
This year, the army side faces Kenya’s Tusker in the first round. The first leg is slated for the weekend of February 17-19 in Nairobi.
APR’s Champions League squad:
Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Habib Kavuma, Jean Bosco Ndaboyisibo, Donatien Tuyisenge, Alex de Avila Peixoto, Ernest Kwizera, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Papy Faty, Saint Preux Leonel, Dan Wagaluka, Olivier Karekezi, Kipson Atuheire, Ismail Nshutiyamagara, Logbo Sery Didier Landry, Mbuyu Twite, Ndikumana Selemani, Jean Claude Ndoli, Ngoma Heriman, Jean Claude Iranzi, Kabange Twite, Diego Oliveiro Alves, Douglas Lopes Carneiro and Ramazan Nkuzingoma