Otema relishes new challenge

The National Football League season is back with excitement, expectations and new targets for each of the 14 teams competing in the nationwide competition that commenced on Saturday. For Peter Otema, it is a new season in a new club and role with fresh optimism to redeem himself after a troublesome offseason that saw him banned from the national football team, Amavubi. Following a fresh policy by Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) to do away with foreign players, Otema formerly known as Peter Kagabo found himself engulfed in an uncertain situation about his football career. However, after signing with former league champions Rayon Sports, Otema has already found redemption at the Nyanza based side completing a dream start for the Blues on Saturday after scoring the lone goal that inspired his side to a 1-0 triumph over lowly Amagaju at the Kigali regional stadium. The Versatile player who can play in midfield and defense is now being used as a striker at Rayon Sports and is impressed by how the Blues’ fans have received him, singing his name on his debut. “It means a lot to me and has made me forget all that I have been going through recently,” Otema said after the match. Scoring the first goal of the season, Otema believes that this is just the beginning of a fruitful season as he eyes a trophy-filled period with the Blues. Just like Rayon Sports, the reigning champions APR got off to a good start with a 1-0 win over Musanze after a lone strike from Patrick Sibomana in the 31st minute on Sunday. That title contenders AS Kigali and Police FC too bagged 1-0 wins over newcomers Sunrise and Gicumbi respectively, is a reflection of a slow start to the season that is expected to be the most competitive in recent years. Police FC head coach Andre Cassa Mbungo has warned the traditional giants APR and Rayon Sports that his side will be up for the title challenge. Last season, Mbungo guided AS Kigali to their debut appearance in the Caf Confederation Cup stunning Burundi’s Academie Tchite 2-1 on aggregate before shocking Al Ahly Shandy of Sudan in a 5-4 penalty shootout in Sudan after tying 1-1 on agregate.