Can Rwanda side APR FC win 4th CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup?

The curtains will come down this afternoon as the regional CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup comes to a climax at the KMC Stadium in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

Twelve teams kicked off the tournament, but the final pits three time winners APR FC against a formidable guest side and reigning champions of the Zambia Premier League, Red Arrows FC.

But before the final, the third play-off match will see Sudan Premier League teams Al Hilal who have by far been the highest scoring team in the tournament with nine goals take on Hay Al Wadi.

Although Darko Novic only joined APR FC as the head coach last month, he has showed good command on the bench and good game reading which has seen them not suffer defeat in the four matches they have so far played in this tournament.

But the final is a different ball game with lots at stake. The biggest question therefore remains to see if the Rwanda army side can add the 2024 Cup to add on the previous ones lifted in 2004, 2007 and 2010. “This is a final and we must make a good start and try to look for early goals, but also defend well as a team,” says Novic.

Although APR have been strong in defending with the leadership of skipper Claude Niyomugabo, they have also showed they are not so sharp at goal scoring only three goals going into the final. To reach the final the Rwanda side stopped Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan) by a similar 1-0 score, and drew 1-1 with Uganda’s SC Villa in the last group match. They went on to eject Al Hilal 5-4 on penalty shootouts after the match had ended goalless at the semi-final stage.

For Red Arrows FC who kicked of the tournament at a low pace, they will be a team to watch going into the final. Coach Chisi Mbewe kick started with a 1-0 win against Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), but suffered a big 5-0 defeat to Al Hilal in the second match. In the last do-or-die match they managed to register a 1-0 win against ASAS Djibouti Telecom. At the semi-final stage they scored two goals in the second half of extra time after the match has ended goalless in the allotted 90 minutes.

Mbewe says they are not in the final by mistake. “We came for this tournament to try and win the Cup,” said Mbewe who also adds that this tournament has helped them prepare well for the new 2024/2025 season.

Red Arrows captain Paul Katema who has scored one goal in the tournament so far believes they have what it takes to emerge winners. “We need to work together as a team to be able to win the match,” he added.

The tournament sponsored by the Sudan Football Association (SFA), Tanzania Ports Authority, Azam TV and Rwanda President Paul Kagame will see the champions bag US$30,000, and the runner-up US20,000. The third placed team will smile away with US$10,000.