Sports

APR coach Ernest Brandts has rated his performance this season a big success and says he is ready to extend his stay with the league and cup winners if the army side gives him a new contract.

The Dutchman led APR to the Primus league and MTN Peace Cup double last season but fell short in regional and continental assignments after his team was eliminated from the Cecafa Club Championships at the semi-final stage and in the first round of the Orange Champions’ League, respectively.

“We were unlucky to go out of the Champions’ League,” the former Dutch international defender said in reference to a last minute goal against Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel in the return leg when APR were reduced to 10 men in controversial circumstances. The game ended 3-2 in favor of the Tunisians.

“As for the Cecafa-Kagame Cup, I don’t think we would have lost the semi-final if we had Kabange (Twite) and Papy Faty in the team,” said Brandts.

It is the first time Brandts admits that Burundian international Papy Faty, whose contract ran out just before the tournament kicked off, is a big miss for the military side.

The Dutchman’s two-year contract with the club expired on July 31 (yesterday) and the anxiety in the 56-year old’s voice was evident as he said: “I want to know the fate of my position soon so that we can prepare for next season. I also need a rest and want to visit my family”.

Seven players out of contract

It is not just the coach who is eager to know his fate but also seven senior players whose contracts have run out and are waiting anxiously to learn whether they will be offered new deals or not.

The affected players include the influential twin brothers Mbuyu and Kabange Twite, Burundian internationals Papy Faty and Seleman Ndikumana, Ugandan midfielder Johnson Bagoole, goalkeeper Ramathan Nkunzingoma and striker Kipson Atuheire.

A source close to the club also revealed that some players that include Logbo Landry Didier, Brazilians Alex De Avila Peixoto, Oliviero Alves and Douglas Lopes Carneirn have been released by the 13-time league winners.

Recently, the club announced plans to release all foreign players and use only Rwandan players for next season.

Contact email: ostine.arinaitwe[at]newtimes.co.rw