Friday ResultsAS Kigali 1-0 Marines Sunrise Fc 1-1 BugeseraEtincelles 0-3 Musanze FCAS Muhanga 1-1 Rwamagana CityGicumbi Fc 0-2 Rayon Sports

AS Kigali head coach Eric Nshimiyimana has praised his star striker Ernest Sugira and believes there is more to come from the 24-year old after scoring the lone goal in the 1-0 win over Marine FC before limping off the field with a hamstring injury on Friday at Kigali Regional Stadium.

It was Sugira’s sixth league goal of the season, which took level with Police FC’s Isaie Songa. Sugira, who also finished as second top scorer in the just concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN) with three goals, was the only Amavubi players on the team of the tournament.

The win on Friday as the national league returned after a three-month break, maintained AS Kigali’s unbeaten record in the league this season, and still three points clear at the top after 10 rounds of matches.

However, Nshimiyimana believes the best is yet to come from Sugira, who could be out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.

"Sugira is a top, top striker because he can score from any angle but we cannot demand too much from him since he still young has a lot to learn as you can see; he is always working hard and am sure he is yet to reach his peak,” Nshimiyimana said in a post-match interview.

The former Rwanda international also hailed his team’s fighting spirit that saw them overcome hard-fight Marine FC, who never gave up despite falling behind as early as in the sixth minute of the match.

In a separate interview, Marine FC coach Abdul Kharim Nduhirabandi disclosed that his side’s failure to keep eyes on Sugira in the game cost them the three points.

"We played good football, and I believe we were the better the team, especially in the second half, however; our defence made one mistake and we paid a heavily, you can’t allow Sugira that much space, he will punish you,” said Nduhirabandi.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw