Espoir seek to bounce back against Kiyovu

After their unbeaten run was halted by APR last weekend, Espoir FC will be seeking to return to winning ways when they take on SC Kiyovu in the national football league at Mumena Stadium in Nyamirambo, today.

Friday, January 06, 2017
Espoir FC (in red) have only lost once this season against APR and will be hoping to bounce back when they take on Kiyovu today at Mumena Stadium.

Friday

SC Kiyovu vs Espoir 3:30pm

Saturday

APR FC vs AS KigaliBugesera vs Kirehe FCAmagaju vs MusanzePolice FC vs Sunrise FC

Sunday

Etincelles vs MarinesRayon Sports vs PepiniereGicumbi FC vs Mukura

After their unbeaten run was halted by APR last weekend, Espoir FC will be seeking to return to winning ways when they take on SC Kiyovu in the national football league at Mumena Stadium in Nyamirambo, today.

Hosts Kiyovu are in eighth place with 15 points after four wins, three draws and four loses while the visitors Espoir, who lost against APR, are fifth with 20 points after winning five and drawing five games.

Espoir head coach Jimmy Ndayizeye warned that the team is ready to get back to winning ways against SC Kiyovu.

"We will go into the game looking for nothing less than a win and I believe we will be able to do that, we lost to APR but that’s history, we must look forward to the next game,” he said.

The Burundian tactician added that, "We were disappointed to lose our unbeaten record, but that was bound to happen at some point because we knew we could not go the whole season unbeaten.”

However, his counterpart of SC Kiyovu, Aloys Kanamugire said he badly needs to win the game and close the gap on top teams.

"We have prepared well but we are also aware that Espoir will be tough as they try to recover from their defeat to APR, we will need to be careful and defend well,” he noted.

Espoir will be without key player and top scorer with four goals, Sadam Nyandwi, who is suspended while SC Kiyovu will be relying on Jean Claude Nizeyimana, who has scored five goals from 11 matches.

On Saturday, reigning champions APR face an uphill task against AS Kigali at Kigali Regional Stadium; Bugesera will be hosting Kirehe at Nyamata ground; Musanze FC will be away to Amagaju in Nyamagabe District while Police FC and Sunrise will be up against each other at Kicukiro stadium.

Action will continue on Sunday with table leaders Rayon Sports hosting bottom-placed Pepiniere at Kigali Regional Stadium; while Gicumbi will be using their home ground for the first time this season when they host Mukura.

At Umuganda Stadium, it will be the first Rubavu derby of the season as eleventh-placed Etincelles (13 points) take on Marines, who are 13th with 11 points.

Rayon Sports lead the standings with 29 points, two ahead of arch-rivals APR FC while AS Kigali are third with 23 points.

League table

Team PD W D L PtsRayon Sports 11 9 2 0 29APR FC 11 8 3 0 27AS Kigali 11 7 2 2 23Police FC 11 6 3 2 21Espoir 11 5 5 1 20Bugesera 11 5 3 3 18Sunrise FC 11 4 4 3 16SC Kiyovu 11 4 3 4 15Musanze 11 4 2 5 14Etincelles 11 4 1 6 13Mukura 11 3 4 4 13Kirehe FC 11 3 2 6 11Marines 11 3 2 6 11Amagaju 11 2 2 7 8Gicumbi 11 1 1 9 4Pepiniere 11 0 1 10 1

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