Rayon Sports defender Abdul Rwatubyaye has expressed his excitement, describing his side’s victory over APR their ‘best’ result of the season.
Huye turned blue when the Blues produced arguably their best performance against the military side in four years, and by far the best in the league this season, in a resounding 1-0 drubbing on Sunday evening at a fully-packed Huye Stadium.
The reigning champions and league leaders were put to the sword by the Blues’ magnificent display with a wonderful strike from Eric Ngendahimana whose lone goal of the game came in the 33rd minute in a result that moved Rayon to within a point shy of APR.
Rwatubyaye, has been out of action through a lengthy injury since October, and had been working hard to be fit to return at the heart of Rayon’s backline in time for the derby.
The Blues’ skipper said that they have got the best win of the season which was a pretty important result that restored their hopes of keeping their title hopes alive.
"This is the best win we have had against APR after four years, but more so, it is the best football we have played this season. We are all so happy with this win," the defender said in a post-match interview
It’s a performance and result that will surely shore up Rayon Sports’ belief they can wrestle the title from their greatest rivals.
"I’m particularly happy with the discipline of my teammates, with their work ethic throughout the match,” he noted.
"This is an important win, we needed the three points, but this is not the end of the road because we have other matches which we have to win, we have to try and replicate such performances even against other teams," he added.
Rayon Sports last beat APR after four years.
Haringingo makes peace with Blues
Francis Haringingo’s side now sit fourth with 36 points and moved level on points with Gasogi United and AS Kigali who are ahead on goal difference. Despite losing the derby, APR stayed at the top of the table with 37 points.
The Burundian has been under increasing pressure due to a poor run of form where Rayon managed just one win in six games before the derby. The club top management had already been divided over sacking him while the majority of supporters had also lost confidence in him.
However, a small number in the club hierarchy insisted on giving him a chance but one thing that many were sure of was that the derby would have been his last had Rayon lost it.
The former Kiyovu tactician now has some space to breathe after helping the club record a win over a team they last beat on April 20, 2019.
Now that he has made peace with everyone at the club, the Burundian remains optimistic that his group is fully focused on winning the title.
"The objective is the title, no doubt about that,” he said.