Iranzi back for APR against La Jeunesse

TodayAPR     vs     La Jeunesse Marines     vs     As Kigali Police     vs     AmagajuKiyovu     vs     Muhanga Mukura     vs     Espoir Rayon Sport  vs     Musanze

Tuesday, January 08, 2013
La Jeunesse coach Godfrey Okoko (L) is looking to upset APR today. Right, APRu2019s Jean Claude Iranzi vies for the ball with Rayon Sportu2019s Hussein Sibomana during a past league game. The New Times / T. Kisambira.

TodayAPR     vs     La Jeunesse Marines     vs     As Kigali Police     vs     AmagajuKiyovu     vs     Muhanga Mukura     vs     Espoir Rayon Sport  vs     Musanze Isonga     vs     EtincellesAPR coach Eric Nshimiyimana will welcome back Jean Claude Iranzi for Wednesday’s Primus National Football League clash against La Jeunesse.The on-form midfielder missed last Saturday’s 2-0 win against Isonga FC after a suspension, and his return to the starting team will be a major boost for the military side. The reigning champions and their hopes of retaining their title will be put to further test against determined La Jeunesse at Stade de Kigali, Nyamirambo.The record 13-time league winners, in fourth place, two points behind leaders SC Kiyovu, take on a motivated La Jeunesse side, which goes into today’s match one point and one place above the military side.The Nyamirambo-based youthful side beat AS Kigali 1-0 at the weekend, a result that denied the later from keeping top spot and dropped to second.With the return of his top scorer, Iranzi, who has netted five league goals this season, Nshimiyimana is looking forward to getting three more points and exerting more pressure on the top teams. "La Jeunesse are riding high this season so I’m aware of the fact that we must be at our best if we’re to get anything from the game. There are no more small teams in the league, and we need to treat each team with the utmost respect,” said the former APR midfielder.He admitted, "This is a big game for us, not because of La Jeunesse’s league position but the fact that there are more than four teams with a chance to win the league, so we need to win to stay in the race.” The La Jeunesse coach, Godfrey Okoko, said, "My players understand my philosophy, we are doing well, we don’t fear anyone, and we will go into the match with the aim of winning.”"The pressure will be APR, which will allow us to play our style of football, the players know we are the underdogs and are ready for the challenge,” stated the ex-Mukura coach.Elsewhere, Marines host high-flying AS Kigali, who will be looking to win to keep pressure on SC Kiyovu. The leaders, SC Kiyovu take on AS Muhanga at Mumena ground. Third-placed Police FC, who had their scheduled match against Espoir last Saturday cancelled following a fatal road accident that killed four police officers, host Amagaju at Kicukiro artificial turf.