Mulisa praises players after APR FC win league opener

Saturday APR FC 2-0 Sunrise FCEtincelles 3-1 Police FCGicumbi FC 2 - 0 EspoirKirehe FC 0 -1 Mukura VS APR head coach Jimmy Mulisa has praised his players after the military side won their first Azam Rwanda Premier League game of the season 2-0 against Sunrise FC on Saturday at Kigali Stadium. Mulisa’s side dominated the game and got their bid for a record-extending 17th league title underway with goals from forward Muhadjir Hakizimana in the 46th minute and an own goal from Regis Mushimiyimana in the 78th minute. “This is good start for us; we wanted to start the season strongly, which gives confidence to the players. I am thankful to them because they followed instructions. We played well today and got the three points but obviously there is room for improvement,” Mulisa said. The former Rwanda international noted, “People have been talking too much about my team, and particularly about me (uncertain future) but we have today shown great character and proven that we are united and we want to achieve our goals together.” “It’s just the beginning of what is going to be a tough and long season, we have got to continue to work hard and try to improve the areas where we need to. The players know that we have to work for each other and that we can achieve our goal together,” he stated. His counterpart at Sunrise FC, Alphonse Gatera, said that his team came into the game with the right mind and approach but were just unlucky not to get anything from it. “I think we deserved more from this game, at least we could have earned a point basing on our first half performance, in the second half, we somehow lost our way and handed APR the initiative to attack us. We can take the positives and hope to do better in the next matches,” Gatera said. In Rubavu, it was disappointment for Police FC, who lost their first game against Etincelles 3-1 at Umuganda Stadium. Ibrahim Niyonsenga scored the first goal before Congolese forward Gentil Salite Kambale added a brace for Emmanuel Ruremesha’s team. Bertrand Iradukunda scored the consolation goal for Innocent Seninga’s Police FC. In other matches played on Saturday, Mukura Victory Sports came away from Kirehe victorious, thanks to a lone goal from new signing Rashid Mutebi, while Godfroid Okoko’s Gicumbi FC won 1-0 against Espoir at Stade de Gicumbi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw