Sunday Scandinavia Vs AS Kigali 15:00 Gakenke Vs Kamonyi 14:00 ES Mutunda Vs Rugende 14:00 AS Kabuye Vs Inyemera 14:00 Bugesera Vs Rambura 13:00
Scandinavia will be looking for a historic first championship when they host archrivals AS Kigali in their final match of this season’s women national football league on Sunday.
The game starts 3pm at Umuganda Stadium.
A draw will be enough for Scandinavia to end AS Kigali’s decade-long dominance of women football, having won the league title for a record tenth consecutive season in June 2018.
Speaking to Sunday Sport, Scandinavia coach Radjab Bizumuremyi confessed that, "This is probably my biggest match in coaching career.”
In a similar scheduling of last year’s final match round – when AS Kigali beat Scandinavia 1-0 to lift the title, the country’s two finest women football clubs go head-to-head again in a winner-take-all affair.
Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, unbeaten Scandinavia top the table with a maximum 51 points, three ahead of Shaban Mbarushimana’s AS Kigali. However, the latter have a superior goal difference (77) compared to Scandinavia’s fifty-eight.
"We have grown so much in experience and maturity since losing last year’s final match, I hope for a different result this time. But, whatever the outcome, I have spoken with my players and urged them to give everything on the pitch,” Bizumuremyi added.
Scandinavia thrashed AS Kigali 3-0 in the two sides’ reverse fixture in April.
In a separate interview, AS Kigali head coach Mbarushimana admitted, "We are caught between a rock and a hard place. This is the toughest title race we have had, and obviously Scandinavia – as hosts – have a better chance.”
He further noted: "We have not given up, and we will not until the final whistle. We won a similar match there last year, and I am confident we can do it again.”
In their last five meetings, giants AS Kigali won three against Scandinavia’s one, while the two sides played out a draw once.
The champions will rack in Rwf3.5million in cash prize on top the trophy, while first runners-up will walk away with Rwf1.5million.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com