APR FC captain Djabel Manishimwe and striker Innocent Nshuti were all smiles after their team finished the league season with yet another silverware, after winning the record-extending 21st league title on Sunday.
It was a dramatic end to the season at Kigali Pele Stadium as the military beat Gorilla 2-1 on Sunday to be crowned champions for the fourth season in a row.
They won the title this time on goal difference after they finished the league campaign level on 63 points with league runners-up Kiyovu SC who beat Rutsiro FC to send them back to the second division.
"We’re delighted to have won this title race in the final sprint. We are enjoying the league and we are happy for our supporters who have been there for us. We know that we need to step things up again for the next game of the Peace Cup to better match our aspirations for our fans,” said Innocent Nshuti who scored the first goal against Gorilla FC.
Midfielder Bosco Ruboneka, who also found the back of the net on Sunday, described Sunday’s decisive victory as ‘incredible’ given the struggles that the team went through throughout the campaign until the final day with no assurance of winning the title.
"It was an incredible moment for us to win the league because it took us until the final game to win the league. We had to give everything for every game, we had a tough campaign this season to the extent that people wrote us off from winning the league. It has been a tough season for us but we’re still happy to be champions,” Ruboneka said.
He may be part of the title-winning group but it has not been a good season for APR captain Djabel Manishimwe who has lost his starting berth in the team this season since he and his former coach Adil Mohammed Erradi were involved in a public spat.
The pair were as a result handed a one-month suspension but Adil protested against it decided to leave the club while Manishimwe served it rejoined the team but he struggled to reclaim his starting role even under current coach Ben Moussa.
The midfielder admits that it has been a tough time which was not easy for him to overcome.
"But I stay positive and focused on my job although I am not having enough playing time like before,” said the club captain.
"To have helped the club win a fourth straight League title is something very special for me. This season was without doubt the most demanding and competitive season for the last four years so we are happy about what we have achieved” he added.
Times Sport has established that each APR FC player will receive a special bonus of Rfw1 million after winning the league title.
The title means that APR will represent Rwanda at the 2023 CAF Champions League while Rayon Sports who are Peace Cup finalists will return to the African Club football stage next season to play in the CAF Confederation Cup.
This is the second time APR FC has won four consecutive Premier League titles. The last time the military side did it was between 2008/09 to 2011/12.