Police coach bows out of title race

TodayRayon Sports vs Rwamagana City FCSunrise FC vs APR FCGicumbi FC vs Police FCEtincelles FC vs SC KiyovuAS Muhanga vs Mukura VS SundayAS Kigali vs Espoir FC Ahead of Saturday’s tie against Gicumbi FC, Police coach Andre Casa Mbungo has admitted that his team is out of the race for the league title. The Law and Order enforcers’ side was among the favourites to win the title after signing 12 players last season, but has been inconsistent, and is in a distant sixth place, with nine rounds of matches remaining. “We are out of the title race because we are far from the top teams, but we need to continue working hard to finish in good position. We will go into the game against Gicumbi with a purpose of winning,” Mbungo told Saturday Sport. Casa Mbungo’s side started the second round on a high, beating AS Kigali 1-0 and Mukura VS 1-0 but they have since succumbed to Bugesera FC 2-0, APR FC 2-1, Rayon Sports 3-1 and Sunrise FC 1-0 before managing a draw with Rwamagana City 0-0. Police visit seventh-placed Gicumbi FC that is just two points behind them, without suspended goalkeeper Marcel Nzarora while hosts Gicumbi FC will also miss suspended central defender Aimable Rucogoza. Mbungo will also be without first choice goalie Emery Mvuyekure who is nursing an injury, but will play striker Dany Usengimana, who missed the game against Sunrise FC through suspension. The under fire former AS Kigali tactician admitted that: “We have been performing poorly for sure since the start of the league season, and that’s me to blame because after all I have to be the man to be asked about results.” “We have not been good enough in past games and we are not a consistent team but now that’s what I am working to solve, it’s never a good feeling to lose game after game,” he noted. However, Mbungo, who guided Police to Peace Cup, Agaciro Development Fund Cup and Anti-Corruption Cup trophies last season, is confident that his side will return to winning ways today. “We have not been as strong as people expected us to be this season, but we need to be consistent in terms of our performances. His counterpart of Gicumbi, Emmanuel Ruremesha, said his team will pick a win in-front of their home fans. “We want to improve our position in every game and we will come into the game with purpose of winning. We will be up against a tricky Police team, who have been struggling and they will be looking for the points,” Ruremesha said. Elsewhere on Saturday, high-flying Rayon Sports (45 points) will try to keep pressure on leaders APR FC (46 points) when they host bottom side Rwamagana City at Kigali Regional Stadium while the league leaders will be away to Sunrise FC at Rwamagana Police ground. Rayon Sports will miss Olivier Seef Niyonzima, who was suspended on Tuesday while APR will miss midfielder Djihad Bizimana, also on suspension. Djuma Masudi will be hoping that on-form striker Davis Kasirye, the hat trick hero in the last game against APR, will add to his tally of 12 goals for the season, while Malian forward Ismaila Diarra (8 goals) and Burundi midfielder Pierrot Kwizera, who has six goals, can lead the team to victory. Fourth-placed SC Kiyovu will be up against Innocent Senginga’s side Etincelles at Umuganda Stadium while AS Muhanga will host second-placed Mukura Victory Sports at Muhanga Regional Stadium. On Sunday, fifth-placed AS Kigali will face Espoir FC at Kigali Regional Stadium. editorial@newtimes.co.rw