Agaciro Development Fund tourney kicks off today

Today: First leg South & West region Mukura vs Amagaju 3pmWest & North regionMarines vs Musanze Gicumbi vs Etincelles East & Kigali region Group A: Police vs Bugesera Group B: AS Kigali vs Rwamagana Kiyovu vs Sunrise Aug. 17 South & West region Amagaju vs Rayon Sports West & North regionMusanze vs Marines Etincelles vs Gicumbi East & Kigali region Group A: Bugesera vs APR Group B: Rwamagana vs AS Kigali Sunrise vs SC Kiyovu Aug. 19 Rayon Sports vs Mukura APR vs Police The 2015 Agaciro Development Fund football tournament kicks off today with six preliminary round matches being played at different grounds across the country. Following the withdrawal of Espoir and Isonga FC, the format of the competition has been changed. Teams from the same region will play against each other and the top teams will advance to the semi-finals. In the Southern and Western region, Huye-based Mukura Victory Sports face Nyamagabe-based Amagaju at Muhanga stadium while Rayon Sports will play Amagaju in Nyamagabe on Monday before winding up their preliminary phase against Mukura on Wednesday at Muhanga stadium. The Western & Northern region will see Marines come up against Musanze FC at Tam-Tam stadium; Emmanuel Ruremesha’s Gicumbi will host second division side Etincelles. Reigning Peace Cup champions, Police FC take on newly promoted Bugesera at FERWAFA ground in Remera in the Kigali and Eastern region, AS Kigali will host national football league newcomers, Rwamagana at Kicukiro stadium ground, while SC Kiyovu and Sunrise face-off at Mumena stadium. At the end of the preliminary phase after all teams have played against each other in the respective regions, the winner of Western and Southern region will face the winner of Western and Northern regions. The final and third-place play-off matches will be played on August 30 at Amahoro stadium. Teams will be using this tournament as part of their pre-season training ahead of the 2015/16 season, which starts on September 18. The competitions will be a good test for coaches like Police FC’s Andre Cassa Mbungo, who has signed 14 players in the current transfer market. The new players include; Robert Ndatimana, Hegman Ngomirakiza, Isaie Songa, Isaac Muganza, Patrick Umwungeri, Anderson Neza, Hakim Tuyisenge, Danny Usengimana and Emmanuel Bwanakweri. Others are; Jean Marie Vianney Muvandimwe, Japhet Hakizimana Irambona, Jean Paul Uwihoreye, Mouhamed Mushimiyimana and Olave Gahonzire. AS Kigali head coach Eric Nhsimiyimana will also be keen to gauge how far his team has gone in terms of their pre-season training, especially the new signings like Charles Tibingana, Pekeyake Tuyisenge and Frederick Ndaka. The Agaciro Development Fund tournament title holders, Rayon Sports, who don’t have a head coach, will also be testing the new players, who include; midfielder Fabrice Kasereka, also known as Moussa Mutuyimana, Thierry Manzi, forwards Kevin Muhire and Savio Nshuti and Cedric Mugenzi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw