Ex-Sofapaka duo bag first title in Rwanda

Barely a month since switching borders, Kenyan internationals Lawrence Juma and Fredrick Odhiambo bagged their first title in Rwanda as their AS Kigali side outwitted reigning league champions APR 5-3 on post match penalties to clinch the Super Cup ahead of the new Rwandan top flight season.

In the encounter, both sides failed to crack a formula past each other's defensive lines as the game ended in a barren stalemate in regulation time forcing the tie to be decided on post match penalties where AS Kigali, coached by former AFC Leopards and Bandari head coach Andre Cassa Mbungo, emerged victorious.

The win was particularly another impressive feat for Mbungo who got his third consecutive win over APR in the spun of four months.

Juma, who left Sofapaka as the reigning Football Kenya Federation Premier League midfielder of the year having scooped the award in the 2020/2021 season, was introduced in the second half while goalkeeper Odhiambo was not included in the matchday squad.

The two former Sofapaka players joined Kigali at the tail end of July where Mozzart Sport revealed that both players had signed two year deals to link up with Mbungo.

After finishing last season in third place on 49 points, seventeen behind APR, AS Kigali will be hoping to get going in the new season that kicks off next weekend.

They face last season's 12th placed finishers Etincelles in their opening campaign.

AS Kigali will also be playing in the 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup.

They defeated city APR FC 1-0 in the final of the 2021/22 Rwanda Peace Cup at the Kigali stadium in Nyamirambo and got a ticket to represent Rwanda in the 2022/23 continental tourney.