APR face big test against Africa's handball giants

TodayAPR Vs Caiman (Congo) 2 pm Sunday, October 22nd:APR Vs JSK (Ivory Coast) 4pm APR Handball Club will face a formidable test at this year’s African Handball Champion Games after being drawn against three continental heavyweights; Esperance Sportive (Tunisia), Al Ahly (Egypt), and Minuh, from Cameroon. The 39th edition of the continental Championship kicks off this afternoon in Hammamet, Tunisia and has attracted a total of 15 clubs from ten countries namely; Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon, Congo, Rwanda, DR Congo, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Ivory Coast. APR will face Caiman, from the Republic of Congo, who finished in 6th place last year before taking on hosts Esperance Sportive and round off their group matches against 4-time champions Al Ahly, who are also the tournament favourities. Speaking to Times Sport yesterday, head coach Anaclet Bagirishya said his team will respect their opponents but won’t fear them. “We have trained enough, the pool is tough but we are not scared about the big names in the group. Although it is the first time APR H-ball is competing in this competition, we have prepared hard and for long for this tourney,” Bagirishya disclosed. Bagirishya took a 13-man team for the tournament. They are Samuel Bananimana, Olivier Hategekimana Ntwari, Bienvenu Rukundo, Shafi Niyonkuru, Jean de Dieu Nyirimanzi, Yes Umuhire, Emile Giraneza, Jean-Paul Niyingenera, Jean-Paul Muhawenayo, Alexis Nshimiyimana, Elysée Muhumure, Ephron Niyonteze and Yannick Karenzi. Hammamet is hosting the competition for the 4th time. Last year, Rwanda was represented by Police H-ball Club which finished bottom of the ten-team tourney. Egyptian giants Al Ahly lifted the title after defeating Esperance 26-23. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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APR face big test against Africa's handball giants