A masterclass second half performance from danger man Joackim Ojera aided Rayon Sports to a convincing 3-0 win over APR to claim the 2023 Super Cup on Saturday.
It was Rayon’s second trophy as far as the Super Cup is concerned, having first won it in 2017.
Saturday’s performance at Kigali Pelé Stadium will go down in history as one of their best in games against their sworn rivals.
APR looked to be the more purposeful side early on in the game as they could have taken the lead in the first minute.
Apam Assongwe, who was operating on the left side of the military side’s attack, beat his marker but fluffed his shot off target to the relief of the Blues fans.
APR’s pressure continued and Apam was at it again in the fourth minute. Rayon goalkeeper Bonheur Hategikimana tried to find his skipper Abdul Rwatubyaye with a short pass but the pass failed to reach its target. It fell to Apam who had an empty net to just bury the ball but he hit his effort off target to the dismay of the APR fans.
Rayon just scored from their very first major chance of the game in the sixth minute. Rharb Youssef was brought down and Heritier Luvumbu’s free kick found an unmarked Charles Bbaale who headed the ball into the net to give his side the early lead.
Bbaale’s goal brought the Rayon fans unto their feet as they sang, chanted and urged their team on.
The opener seemed to have ignited Rayon Sports as they came attacking from all angles but APR’s midfielders Sharaf Shaiboub and Ismail Nshimirimana tried to cool down the tempo of the game with their masterclass display.
The duo sprayed passes to every corner of the field as they maintained their dominance and composure in midfield.
Despite the military side’s dominance in ball possession, Rayon had done the needful as they led by a lone goal going into half time.
Rayon came into the second half as the better side as coach Yamen Zelfani brought on, Iraguha Hadji, Didier Mucyo and Rashid Kalisa respectively for Ally Serumogo, Heritier Luvumbu respectively
The Blues decided to use the pace of Joackim Ojera to great effect as he bombarded the APR penalty area with his maurading runs.
Hadji Iraguha, who was a delight to watch, found Ojera with a superb pass and the Ugandan attacker was brought down in the penalty area by Yunus Nshimiyimana who could not match his pace.
Rashid Kalisa stepped up and buried the spot kick in the 86th minute to give Rayon a 2-0 lead.
It was all Rayon from there all as they seized the midfield and rendered Shaiboub and Nshimirimana ineffective.
A long ball from the back found Ojera who had already taken off and as he entered the APR penalty box, he was cynically brought down by Christian Ishimwe.
The petit Ugandan who has been a thorn in the flesh of the APR defenders stepped up and coolly planted the ball at the back of the net in the 95th minute to give Rayon a 3-0 win.
Referee Samuel Uwikunda blew his final whistle for the end of the game with Rayon 3-0 up. Aside the glitter trophy, the Blues also took home a cash prize of Rwf10million.
