APR FC, the Rwandan football giants, have been placed in Group C for the upcoming 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup. They will compete against Sport Club Villa from Uganda, Singida Black Stars from Tanzania, and Al Mereik Bentui from South Sudan. The tournament will be held in Dar es Salaam from July 9-21, 2024.
Challenges Faced in Organizing the CECAFA Kagame Cup
This year’s CECAFA Kagame Cup has faced several challenges. Notably, some teams, especially from Tanzania, declined to participate and even requested the tournament be postponed. However, these requests were not granted. Despite the difficulties, the group stage draw took place on July 3, 2023. APR FC, representing Rwanda, found itself in a competitive Group C.
Group C Opponents
- Sport Club Villa (Uganda): The reigning champions of the Ugandan Premier League.
- Singida Black Stars (Tanzania): Finished 11th in the Tanzanian Premier League. Their participation comes after top Tanzanian teams like Yanga, Simba SC, and Azam opted out of the tournament.
- Al Mereik Bentui (South Sudan): The champions of the South Sudanese Premier League.
Other Groups
- Group A: Coastal Union (Tanzania), Al-Wadi (Sudan), JKU (Zanzibar), and Dekaheda FC (Somalia).
- Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia (Kenya), Red Arrows (Zambia), and Telecom FC (Djibouti).
APR FC’s New Look
APR FC will be participating in this year’s tournament with a new coaching team led by Darko Nović, along with his assistants. The team also boasts new players, including Richmond Lamptey and Dauda Yassif from Ghana. Additionally, they have added Brazilian player Juan Batista Lopes Da Silva and several Rwandan talents such as Tuyisenge Arsène, Dushimimana Olivier, and Mugiraneza Froduard.
Historical Context
APR FC last won the CECAFA Kagame Cup in 2010, where they triumphed over St. George from Ethiopia with a 2-0 victory.
By participating in this prestigious tournament, APR FC aims to reclaim their glory and make Rwanda proud once again.
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