With nine games played, so far, in the Rwanda Premier League this season, the race for the title remains open, SC Kiyovu coach, Alain Andre Landeut, has said.
Kiyovu’s new head coach Landeut admits that it will be difficult to win the league in his first season, but was quick to add that "it is possible.”
Landeut admitted: "The battle for the title is on because, realistically, even us (Kiyovu) are still very much in the race. Of course, APR, AS Kigali, and Rayon Sports, are all fighting for the title but we will continue trying to improve every game ahead of us.”
Kiyovu will return to the field on November 23 when they visit APR at Kigali Stadium seeking to remain on top of the table.
"The title race is still wide open, we are not even at the halfway stage of the season and you can see that a number of clubs can win the league. So, it is not finished for us because we are leading the table, or other teams, and I am sure the next games will be tough for every club,” he said.
Founded in 1964, Kiyovu won the seven league title until 1993 and Landeut’s top mission, as stipulated in his contract, will be to try and change that unfancied record.
The club has won seven league titles, three trophies, and one super cup, and was the only Rwandan club to go a whole season unbeaten, in 1990.
The new coach doesn’t seem bothered by the daunting task ahead.
"We must keep on winning the matches, but there is a need for everyone connected to Kiyovu to pull in the same direction. We all need to work together as a unit from top to bottom if we’re to be able to meet our expectations.”
He noted: "Kiyovu is a good team with good players. What we need to do is work hard and give the players the winning mentality so that we can achieve our dream.”
In the 2016/2017 season, Kiyovu, survived relegation by a whisker. The club finished second from the bottom.
That season, it was relegated to the second tier but was handed a second chance after the then promoted Isonga FC withdrew from the top flight league. The Mumena-based side is now leading the table with 20 points, two ahead of second-placed Rayon Sports and three points ahead of defending champions APR.