Mulisa eyes Agaciro Devt Fund Cup glory

Semi-finals Saturday Police vs Musanze 3:30pm Sunday Rayon Sports vs Sunrise FC 3:30pm Sunrise FC head coach Jimmy Mulisa is confident his team can overcome Rayon Sports in the semi-final of the ongoing Agaciro Development Fund Cup scheduled for tomorrow at Amahoro stadium. Rayon Sports reached the semi-final after defeating Mukura Victory Sport 2-1 in the quarter-final, thanks to goals from Nigerian strikers Augustin Onyenga and Irehe Emenike, who are both on trial while Hussein Cyiza Mugabo scored for Mukura. Mulisa’s Sunrise FC stunned his former APR and Amavubi team-mate, Eric Nshimiyimana’s side AS Kigali 2-1 in the last eight round. Former APR forward Mulisa, a rookie in the coaching business, said, “We want to reach the final of this tournament because it will help us to get more confidence ahead of the new season, we beat AS Kigali in the last round, and now we need to do the same to Rayon Sports.” “It may be a pre-season tournament but this is a very important match for Sunrise and I am glad the players understand well my ambitions and they have done really well for me since I took over. I have told them that we need to reach the final, and I hope we will,” he noted. Meanwhile, Rayon Sports interim coach Sosthene Habimana said that they are using the tournament to assess the new players, who are on trial. “Sunrise have done well to reach the semi-finals and I believe they will come into the game with a lot of confidence but we are ready. The game on Sunday will be a good test for us, especially with the new players we’re looking at to see if they can really make the grade,” Habimana stated. Rayon Sports interim coach Sosthene Habimana. (Timothy Kisambira) According to Habimana, Rayon Sports squad has changed by almost 95% percent where they have Nigerians in trial including; Augustine Onyeka, Irehe Emeka, Oryi Emeka and Ugandan Davis Kasirye. The Nyanza-based side have also signed players like Cedrick Mugenzi (Gicumbi), Kevin Muhire, Dominique Savio Nshuti, Alexis Ndacyayisenga, Bonheur Hategekimana and Jean D’Amour Nzayisenga from Isonga and Thierry Manzi from Marines. In today’s first semi-final, 2015 Peace Cup winners Police FC will be up against Musanze FC at Kicukiro stadium. Police FC defeated rivals APR 4-2 on post-match penalty shootouts after a 1-all draw on Wednesday. Midfielder Rachid Kalisa opened the scoring for Andre Casa Mbungo’s Police FC before left winger Patrick Sibomana equalized for the army side. “Musanze are very tricky team but we have prepared well for last three weeks, so I believe we are in a good position physically and mentally,” Casa Mbungo told Saturday Sport. His opposite number of Musanze, Hussein Barack is confidence that his side can beat Police. “We know we are facing a strong team but we haven’t reached here by chance, we are here because of hard work so we will continue to do the same tomorrow (today),” the Tanzanian tactician said yesterday. The final of the 2015 Agaciro Development Fund Cup will be played on next Sunday at Amahoro national stadium. editorial@newtimes.co.rw