Etincelles FC head coach Abdu "Bekeni” Bizimana has warned APR FC that they should not expect an easy match when the two sides meet in Rubavu on Saturday.

The teams will face off at Umuganda Stadium at 3pm in a Matchweek Seven encounter, with Etincelles looking to bounce back from a 4-0 defeat to league leaders Marine FC.

ALSO READ: BK Pro League: Kiyovu face Kigali FC as APR FC, Rayon Sports travel to Rubavu

Etincelles sit seventh in the standings with seven points from six matches, while APR have played only once in the league this season, beating Marine FC 4-2.

The defending champions have had a limited domestic schedule after their league fixtures coincided with their CAF Champions League qualifying campaign.

Bekeni said his team is familiar with facing APR and believes they have what it takes to challenge the defending champions.

"This is not the first time we are playing APR FC, and it is not the first time we are facing a strong APR side. If they come and beat us, it would be something that does not happen often here in the league. We have prepared ourselves as a team that wants to win,” Bekeni said.

The Etincelles coach dismissed the suggestion that APR are guaranteed to win because of their reputation and status in Rwandan football.

"It is not automatic because APR FC are not guaranteed to beat Etincelles FC either,” he said.

Bekeni also questioned the perception that APR have better players than his team, pointing out that both sides field 11 players.

"Don’t we also have eleven players? Don’t they have eleven players? How do you measure their superiority?” he asked.

He added that Etincelles have their own ambitions and are not competing merely to make up the numbers in the league.

"What about us? Don’t we have objectives too? We are not here just to make up the numbers. Everyone wants to progress and compete,” he said.

Etincelles will also look to draw confidence from their previous home meeting with APR, having beaten the defending champions 2-1 the last time the two sides met in Rubavu.