{"id":19979,"date":"2022-06-18T09:12:14","date_gmt":"2022-06-18T09:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/apr-retain-league-title-for-third-consecutive-season"},"modified":"2022-06-18T09:23:44","modified_gmt":"2022-06-18T09:23:44","slug":"apr-retain-league-title-for-third-consecutive-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-retain-league-title-for-third-consecutive-season","title":{"rendered":"APR retain league title for third consecutive season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Two second half goals from forward Gilbert Mugisha were enough to help APR beat Police 2-0 on Thursday, June 16, at Kigali Stadium and retain the league title for the third time in a row.<\/p>\n

It was the club\u2019s record-extending 20th league title in 27 years.<\/p>\n

Mugisha, a former winger for Rayon Sports, was the cult hero for the army side and his vital brace put a bitter end to SC Kiyovu\u2019s pursuit for their first championship in 29 years.<\/p>\n

APR started the game aggressive in the attack as they pressed for an early lead to keep their title hopes in control, with Moroccan head coach Adil Erradi deploying four forwards \u2013 Yannick Bizimana, Lague Byiringiro, Gilbert Mugisha and Innocent Nshuti \u2013 in the starting eleven.<\/p>\n

APR players and technical staff lift the trophy aloft to celebrate their 20th league title after beating Police 2-0 at Kigali Stadium on Thursday. Photo: Sam Ngendahimana.<\/b><\/p>\n

Pressure mounted on Police when Mugisha dribbled past the opposite side\u2019s defenders from the left flank and passed Bizimana whose effort was saved by veteran goalie Eric \u2018Bakame\u2019 Ndayishimiye.<\/p>\n

Despite the army side dominating the first half, Francis Nuttal\u2019s men thwarted their chances and kept the score goalless until the break.<\/p>\n

Six minutes into the second period, however, Mugisha broke the deadlock with a powerful strike that handed APR the lease of life they desperately needed.<\/p>\n

Police\u2019s frontline tried for an equalizer few minutes later after Dany Usengimana did some fantastic work in the buildup and delivered a sharp cross to Antoine Dominique Ndayishimiye but his effort was comfortably denied by youthful goalkeeper Pierre Ishimwe.<\/p>\n

To kill the game for the law enforcers, Mugisha scored one of the best goals of the season in injury time following a defensive howler by Police centre-back Faustin Usengimana.<\/p>\n

What the result means<\/b><\/p>\n

The 2-0 victory over Marines at Muhanga Stadium was not enough for SC Kiyovu who were hoping for another slip up by Adil\u2019s men on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Abedi Bigirimana and Emmanuel Okwi scored in the second half to help Kiyovu finish second on the league table with 65 points, just a point behind champions APR.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am happy for my players for today\u2019s performance. It\u2019s been a difficult season but we are champions. We are not champions because of only today\u2019s match but how we performed during the entire campaign,\u201d Adil told reporters in a post-match interview.<\/p>\n

Match-winner Mugisha said his performance against Police is what he wants to maintain in contributing to the club\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a good season for me and I am happy for today\u2019s performance. I want to feel more important at the club and help them win more silverwares,\u201d Mugisha said.<\/p>\n

The champions bagged Rwf25 million in cash prize on top of securing a ticket to represent the country in the 2021\/22 CAF Champions League.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Etoile de l\u2019Est joined bottom side Gicumbi as the second team to be relegated to the second division league after suffering a 2-0 defeat to AS Kigali.<\/p>\n\r\n