Bonnie Mugabe
12 July 2008
Kigali — APR Fc start the defence of their Cecafa/Kagame Cup title this afternoon against Yanga Africans at Dar es Salaam national stadium, Tanzania.
The two sides have won the regional club championship five times between themselves with the Tanzania outfit having won it trice (1975, 1993 and1999) and twice for their Rwandan rivals who won it in 2004 and 2007.
APR's Dutch coach Rene feller told Sunday Sport yesterday from Dar es Salaam by telephone that his players are well prepared to defend their crown.
"We have prepared for the opening game against Yanga just like we would do for any other match "The players are in good shape and I'm glad that we don't have any injury worries to think about," Feller said.
APR and Yanga are in group C along with Miembeni of Zanzibar.
Rwanda's other representative, Rayon Sport also start their campaign this afternoon against Uganda's champions, URA in Morogoro.
Raoul Shungu must play today's game without injured defender Aimable Rucogoza and other key players like Labama Bokota, Kalisa Kase, Taribo Emma, Cyril Pizzolera, and Geremi Dusenge who were left behind over disciplinary grounds.
However, Shungu will be boosted by the presence of midfielder Abdul Uwimana whose passport issue was cleared on Friday and was expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam yesterday afternoon.
Rayon are gunning for a second Cecafa club championship title after the lifting the 1998 edition.
Last year's losing finalists URA, who arrived in Tanzania in mid-week, are reported to be in high spirits as they hope to go one better than last year's finish.
The two-week tournament got underway yesterday with one fixture on day one between the hosts Simba and Kenya's Tusker.
The tournament is sponsored by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, to the tune of $60,000 (for cash prizes), Tanzania Breweries through their Castle Lager brand and Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, who will broadcast live all the matches.
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