With just two days before the start of the 2016 handball league season, APR handball club have signed four new players as they seek to end the league title drought that stretches to seven years. The military side’s only league title came in 2009 and the club will go into the forthcoming season seeking to put up a genuine challenge against defending champions Police, who have won the league four times, including the last three in a row. The new rivals include Shaffy Niyonkuru from St Aloys Rwamagana, Honore Byiringiro from Ecole Secondaire Kigoma, Andrew Akayezu from Ecole Secondaire Rambura and Beckham Nzarora from Ecole Secondaire, all on a one-year contract. “Last season we took a step forward and won some silverware unlike in 2014 when we finished empty-handed. Our focus this time is to challenge for more trophies, particularly the league title,” said APR coach, Anaclet Bagirishya. Last season, APR won the Genocide Memorial and Liberation Day tournaments as well the East African Community (EAC) Military Games in Kampala, Uganda. Bagirishya added, “We have tried to sign young and talented players not to only challenge for the league title but also to successfully defend the Military games title.” This year’s handball league will consist of 12 clubs from 10 that competed last year. The new clubs include; University of Rwanda Nyarugenge Campus and Kibogora Polytechnic from Nyamasheke district. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
