Rayon, APR could meet in yet another final

Tuesday’s results Musanze 0-3 APRMarines 2-1 EtincellesLa Jeunesse 1-3 R.SportsAS Muhanga 1-6 Kiyovu Today Semi-finalsR. Sports vs Marines 1:45pmAPR vs Kiyovu 3:45pm HAVING played in more finals of local competitions than any other teams, archrivals Rayon Sports and APR could yet again meet in the final of the preseason Primus Cup on Saturday. But for that to happen, both must first win their respective last four battles this afternoon at Nyamirambo stadium. Rayon Sports take on lowly Marines in the first of the two semi-finals while APR must overcome Sports Club Kiyovu. The Blues won easily their last group match beating newly promoted side La Jeunesse 3-1 and will be hot favorites to reach the final, hence having one hand on the Frw5m top prize. Emmanuel Ruremesha’s side has lost the last two finals contest against APR, which include the MTN Peace Cup as well the ‘United we Stand’ tournament. Eleven-time league champions, APR won every local competition that entered last season (bar CAF Champions League) and will be hoping to start the new season in similar fashion. Both clubs had 100 percent record at the group stage. While APR beat Musanze 3-0 on Tuesday to reach for the last four, Jean Marie Ntagwabira’s Kiyovu routed AS Muhanga 6-1. Muhanga have just been promoted to the top flight division. Fresh from winning ‘The United We Stand Tournament’, APR assistant coach Eric Nshimiyimana, who is charge for this tournament in the absence of head coach Erik Paske, is confident of storming yet another final albeit of a preseason tournament. The army side is missing several first team players, who are yet to return from their holidays after the exhaustion of last season but Nshimiyimana is still convinced the available players have the quality to see off a side coached by his former teammate at both club and national level. But also, Ntagwabira is optimistic about his team’s chances of winning at least something for the first time in so many years. “I believe this team (Kiyovu) is good enough to beat anyone on our day, starting with APR on Thursday. We have had a very good tournament so far and those results especially the last (against AS Muhanga) will put in a good position to face APR in the semifinal,” said Ntagwabira. The tournament winner and runners-up will walk with Rwf5m and Frw3m while third and fourth placed teams will also get cash prizes of Rwf2m and Frw1m respectively. Ends