TANZANIAN soccer club, Azam FC, capped off its participation in the ‘APR Better Pre-Season’ tournament with a dominant 2-0 win over hosts APR FC, the reigning Rwandan champions, in a friendly match that showcased the former's tactical discipline and growing team cohesion.

The encounter, held at the iconic Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Sunday, served as a fitting finale to Azam FC's three-game stint in the invitational event organized by APR FC.

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’, as Azam FC are affectionately known, struck twice through their attacking midfielders to seal the victory.

Zidane Sereri opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time (45+2), capitalizing on a well-orchestrated build-up to slot home from close range.

Midfielder Yahya Zayd doubled the lead in the 54th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack that exposed APR FC's defensive vulnerabilities.

Despite APR FC's reputation for ball possession, Azam FC effectively neutralized their hosts, maintaining control and creating numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes.

This triumph marked Azam FC's third outing in the tournament, following a mixed bag of results.

They kicked off with a hard-fought 4-3 penalty shootout win over Polisi FC after a 1-1 draw, but suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to AS Kigali in their second fixture.

Both matches were played at the Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, providing valuable exposure for the Mainland Premier League outfit as the club gears up for the upcoming season.

In his post-match reflections, Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge (pictured) praised his team's adaptability and progress, emphasizing their ability to match APR FC's style while imposing their own.

Ibenge disclosed: "We played three different games. We know how they play, how APR plays. We know that they like to keep the ball and we do that, we like also."

The Congolese tactician highlighted the squad's high-pressing approach and possession play as key to the success.

"We keep the ball and we make very, very good pressure. We put them under pressure, and when we had the ball, we played good football; we kept the ball. And I think it's a good game and we are improving," the coach noted.

Despite the positive outcome, Ibenge remained grounded, acknowledging room for growth.

He concluded: "We are not in the top, but we are still working because I think we can do better than what we did."