Crunch time as APR, SC Kiyovu face-off

HEAD COACH Yaounde Gilbert Kanyankole admits SC Kiyovu’s showdown with 13-time league champion APR this evening is crucial as they bid to sail through to the top of the table.

Saturday, December 14, 2013
Striker Michel Ndahinduka seen against Gicumbi in a previous match will be vital for APR who are gunning to end their title drought this season. Sunday Sport/Timothy Kisambira

Turbo King League

TodayRayon Sport vs. Marines (Stade de Kigali) Mukura vs. Musanze (Kamena) APR FC vs. Kiyovu Sports (Amahoro) Police vs. Amagaju (Kicukiro)

YesterdayEtincelles 0-0 AS KigaliGicumbi 0-3 EspoirEsperance 2-1 AS Muhanga

HEAD COACH Yaounde Gilbert Kanyankole admits SC Kiyovu’s showdown with 13-time league champion APR this evening is crucial as they bid to sail through to the top of the table.

Kanyankole’s side sits fourth, two points behind APR and four behind leaders AS Kigali, but they have a golden opportunity to reduce the gap with a victory at Amahoro, where the former Vital’O coach has a 100 per cent record over the military side.

It is a huge test of APR’s ability to regain the title they won in 2012 and the military side has belief to shoot down the old giants.

They will be welcoming most of their senior players who were with Amavubi in the Cecafa Challenge Cup which came to an end this week in Kenya but Rwanda had been booted out of the tournament after a 1-0 loss to hosts Kenya in the quarter final.

SC Kiyovu’s Kanyankole is confident his men are ready for the task and they have prepared well ahead of the game.

He told Sunday Sport yesterday: "The team is in good shape and ready for the match. We know what is at stake to play against a big team like APR and we are ready to do the job,” said Kanyankole who this year while with Vital’O knocked out APR of the Africa Champions league as well as denied them the Cecafa Kagame Cup title in the Cecafa Kagame Cup finals held in Sudan.

In other matches due this afternoon, defending champion Rayon Sport face visitors Marines at Stade de Kigali; Southern Province giants Mukura Victory Sport host on-form Musanze at Kamena stadium while Police takes on Amagaju at Kicukiro turf.

Meanwhile, leaders AS Kigali dropped vital points after being forced to a goalless draw by hosts Etincelles in Rubavu yesterday. AS Kigali maintain the lead at the summit of the standings with 22 points while Etincelles remain eighth with 14 points.

However, Espoir jumped to third position with 19 points after registering a 3-0 win over hosts Gicumbi while Esperance booked their second win of the season after thrashing AS Muhanga 2-1 to move into eleventh position with 7 points.

Gicumbi remain tenth with eight points.