Rayon Sports head coach Julien Mette has admitted that the Primus National League title is now out of their reach following Saturday’s shock derby loss to arch rivals APR FC.
Goals from Clement Ishimwe and Ramadan Niyibizi secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Blues, a result that saw APR move 13 points clear at the top.
After the game, Mette accepted the defeat and that his side’s hopes of winning the title were over.
"To be honest, the title is beyond our grasp. Despite our best efforts, we must face the reality of the situation," the French tactician told the press in a post-match interview.
Saturday’s win also brought Rayon Sports’ four-game unbeaten derby run to an end something that Mette attributed to recent departures of club key players including Joackiam Ojera, Héritier Luvumbu and captain Abdul Rwatubyaye.
"We lost our best players in the mid-season when it wasn’t possible to replace them. The team that beat APR in the Peace Cup or Super Cup is quite different from the one we have today,” the coach explained.
"Our focus now turns to winning the Peace Cup and we have good chances to achieve it.”
Invincibles again?
APR haven’t lost a single match so far this season, having won 17 matches and drawn seven times.
The defending champions previously achieved an unbeaten league campaign during the 2021/22 season under coach Adil Muhammed and club captain Claude Niyomugabo Niyomugabo, who was part of the squad back then, believes they can repeat the feat this season should they manage to avoid losing a game in their final six fixtures.
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Niyomugabo told Times Sport that the result not only put the army side in pole position to claim their fifth straight league title it also boosted their ambitions to finish the league campaign unbeaten.
"While it may appear that we have already secured the league title after this victory, that's not sufficient for us. We are committed to finishing the season unbeaten, a feat we have accomplished in the past."
APR are now top of the table with 58 points after 24 games, 13 points clear of Rayon Sports who are second with 45 points.