Today’s Fixtures

Rayon  v  Electrogaz

Atraco  v  Police

Kiyovu  v  Marines

Kibuye  v  AS Kigali

Mukura  v  Etincelles

APR  v  Military

The 2007/08 national football league season gets underway today at various grounds across the country.

The champions APR start the defence of their title against Military Fc while fellow new entrants Electrogaz face Rayon Sports.

To anyone connected to the new clubs, it’s not the sort of games they would wish for to start life in topflight division.
APR, chasing a record-extending tenth title in 14 years would be all but assured of the three points against a side one would not resist describing as their ‘sisters’ at Amahoro stadium.

While, Rayon who are going into the campaign chasing only their fifth league crown, are also expected to overcome Electrogaz in Gitarama.

The blues have signed a number of quality strikers including Jimmy Gatete from APR and Roger Tuyisenge from Marines, coach Thierry Hitimana can only be optimistic.

"The team has improved greatly and after winning the Centenary Cup, morale in high.

The entire dressing room is buzzing with confidence”, Hitimana said.

However, his opposite number of Electrogaz, Mbarushimana is not disturbed by Rayon side and their success in the four-team Centenary Cup and believes that the best team will walk away with the maximum points.

"We have recruited accordingly and I believe the players we’ve brought to strengthen our squad are good enough to help us win any league game.

 "I know Rayon is a good team, composed of national team stars but that has nothing to do with our fixture and I think we can beat them to start life in the top division in the best way possible,” Mbarushimana said.

APR were stunned in the Centenary tournament, losing both their games against Mukura and Atraco respectively but their coach Andy Mfutila deems than a one-off, which doesn’t count much to the league.

He said, "The league is the right forum to prove to our critics what we are capable of doing.

"And winning our opening game is what we want to erase the disappointment (of not winning the Centenary Cup) from our heads. That’s what everybody in the camp is targeting,” the Congolese coach admitted.

While Abu Koroma, Military Fc head coach said, "We have had enough preparations for the league start and so bring on not only APR but any other team”.

Elsewhere, Jean Marie Ntagwabira would be hoping to kick off the campaign with maximum points when his Atraco side hosts Police in Shyorongi.

Ends