APR’s Rwasamanzi calls for consistency after Mukura win

SundaySunrise FC vs Marines 3:30pmEtincelles vs Musanze Amagaju vs Police FC FridayAPR FC 3-1 Mukura VS APR FC interim head coach Yves Rwasamanzi has lauded his players and urged for consistency after a comfortable win over Mukura Victory Sport in a national football league match played on Friday evening at Kigali Regional Stadium. After stumbling last week against Gicumbi in a 1-all draw, the 16-time champions bounced back defeating Huye-based Mukura 3-1 courtesy of second half strikes from Blaise Itangishyaka and a brace from Maxime Sekamana. Christopher Ndayishimiye scored the consolation goal for Mukura. “I am happy for my players, tactically we played a good game as a team, which is the reason we’ve managed to win against a very difficult Mukura side,” Rwasamanzi said in a post-match interview. The former SC Kiyovu coach added, “Mukura are a tough team and you saw that today, especially in the first half when they dominated possession but we remained focused and positive throughout the game.” “After last week’s disappointment (draw against Gicumbi), it was important to win today but most importantly, we need to be consistent,” Rwasamanzi noted. In a game characterised by of high intensity by both teams, Godfroid Okoko’s Mukura dominated the first half playing neat football however, they did not test APR’s goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure while the military side relied more on counter attacks which did not produce anything. After a goalless first half, APR came back for the second period stronger and hungrier and it them just one minute for Itangishaka to break the deadlock when he fired home a powerful shot from outside the box that gave Mukura goalie Hassan Jumaine no chance at all. The goal seemed to wake up Mukura, who upped their game and pressured APR, and it paid off in the 60th minute when full-back Michel Rusheshangonga fouled Mukura’s Lewis Hakizimana in the penalty area. The referee awarded the penalty and Ndayishimiye made no mistake from the resulting kick dispatching the ball perfectly in the top corner to make it 1-1. Itagishaka, signed last season season from Marines FC, was injured in the 67th minute, and was replaced by Sekamana, who made an instant impact, causing problems for Mukura’s defense. It wasn’t so long after his introduction that he scored his first goal of the evening and APR’s second in the 81st minute before adding in his second, three minutes later as the military side ran up 3-1 victors. Mukura coach Okoko noted that, “We played well and controlled the game but we failed to execute the many chances that we created but that is football, we have to move on and prepare for the next game.” The win took APR temporarily at the top of the league table with seven points, one ahead of Etincelles and Sunrise FC, who are in action today against Musanze and Marines FC respectively. Mukura, who also lost 1-0 against Etincelles last weekend, remain in 9th place with three points after three rounds of matches. Elsewhere today, fourth-placed Rayon Sport host AS Kigali, in sixth place, at Kigali Regional Stadium, second-placed Etincelles host Musanze at Umuganda stadium while Police FC travel to Nyagisenyi to take on Amagaju with Sunrise, on third position, hosting Marines in Nyagatare. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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APR’s Rwasamanzi calls for consistency after Mukura win