To reach the final, APR FC, Rwanda’s league 2018 champions beat Ettincelles FC 3-0 in the semifinal while Rayon Sports beat AS Kigali 3-1 on Friday.
Both Rayon Sports FC and APR FC could not convert into goals the chances they got in the first half of the game which made it a goalless halftime.
Nine minutes after the start of the second half, APR FC were reduced to ten men after their defender Herve Rugwiro was shown a straight red card which saw him dismissed from the field.
This followed a karate-like leg kick he struck to his opponent, a Rayon Sports midfielder Olivier Niyonzima ‘Sefu’ in the chest.
With one man down in the playground, APR FC defended so well avoiding a goal, with the impressive goalkeeping by Yves Kimenyi who saved many kicks that it was still 0-0 in the 90th minute.
However, in the second additional minute of the game, Rayon Sports who had been hunting a goal for so long and having much dominated the second half, got their lone and winning goal which enabled them scoop the Agaciro Development Fund Tournament trophy 2018 adding to what they won last year.
The goal was scored by Francois ‘Master’ Mugisha who converted nicely an assist by Kevin Muhire who was awarded as the “Best Player” of this year’s tournament.
Rayon Sports – who participated in 2018 Agaciro Development Fund Tournament after having had an impressive run in the 2018 TOTAL CAF Confederation cup in which they were eliminated in the quarterfinals- were handed a trophy with a Rwf 2 million cheque.
APR FC who were runners-up were bagged Rwf 1 million while AS Kigali who won the third place pocketed Rwf 500,000. AS Kigali won the third place after beating Ettincelles FC 2-1 in the losers match.
The tournament which was played for its third year has generated Rwf 88 millions [before this year’s tournement]. In 2016, the tournament generated total revenue worth Rwf 16 million with FERWAFA family contributing a further Rwf 34 million. Last year, Rwf 38 million was collected from the tournament, according to the Fund’s website.
The Agaciro Development Fund football championship is held annually as part of raising funds towards the sovereign fund.
Agaciro Development Fund was mooted during the 2011 National Dialogue.
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