Mulisa lauds team spirit as APR stay unbeaten

Friday AS Kigali vs Musanze 3:30pm Saturday Rayon Sports vs Gicumbi 3:30pm Pepiniere vs Police FC Marines vs Mukura VS Sunday Etincelles vs SC Kiyovu 3:30pm Bugesera vs Amagaju Kirehe vs Espoir APR FC vs Sunrise APR new head coach Jimmy Mulisa has commended the team spirit that has yielded two wins from his first two games in charge as the reigning champions maintain their unbeaten run after six matches. The former Rwanda international took charge of his former club two weeks ago replacing Yves Rwasamanzi (now his assistant), who was serving as interim coach since September, following the sacking of veteran tactician Gilbert ‘Yaoundé’ Kanyankore less than a month into the job. Despite a modest start under Rwasamanzi during which the military side managed only eight points from four games (two wins and two draws), Mulisa has already began to prove that he is the right man in the APR dugout having registered a 100% winning start hence closing the gap on top of the league table. The 2-1 win over hard-fighting Kirehe FC on Wednesday at Kigali Regional Stadium, took APR to second spot level on 14 points with Police FC, who dropped to third spot on goal difference. Both teams are five points behind leaders Rayon Sports but APR still have a game in hand, against Pepiniere FC, which will be played on December 14. APR’s victory came through goals from midfielder Janvier Benedata in the first half and defender Faustin Usengimana in the second period while Ibrahim Ndikumasaba scored the consolation for Hamis ‘Kishi’ Sogonya’s visitors. Following a second successive win in as many weeks, Mulisa admitted, “I am excited with how my team is performing; they are doing whatever I ask them to on the pitch like creating more chances.” “Since day one, everyone is doing the right thing and pushing for a place in the starting team, the team spirit is fantastic, nonetheless, there are certain areas of our game that we definitely need to improve,” he noted. The former APR forward also thanked the black and white side supporters, “I am very grateful for the support that everyone has shown me since I have been here and I promise them that this team can do even better.” In Mulisa’s first game in charge, last week, APR defeated Etincelles 2-1. However, the rookie coach has decried the fact that his team is yet to keep a clean sheet having conceded the two goals in the dying minutes of the games, something he has vowed to correct before their next game against Sunrise on Sunday. editorial@newtimes.co.rw