APR’s league title hopes fade after dropping more points

Saturday Kirehe FC 0-0 APR FCPepiniere 2-0 EtincellesEspoir 1-1 Gicumbi FCAS Kigali 1-0 Amagaju League defending champions APR FC saw their title hopes continue to fade after they were held to a goalless draw against Kirehe FC at Nyakarambi ground on Saturday. Jimmy Mulisa’s team dropped points for the third time. They remain second in the table but the gap increased to three points between them and leaders Rayon Sports, who have two games in hand. Rayon Sports are on 43 points, three ahead of APR while Kirehe are 10th with 22 points. If Rayon win their two games in hand against AS Kigali and Sunrise FC, it would put them nine points clear at the top. On Saturday, Mulisa could not hide his frustration as his injury-ravaged side remains without victory in the last three league matches and having exited the CAF Champions League at the first hurdle at the hands of Zambia’s Zanaco FC last month. “It is yet another frustrating result for us. We came here to get all three points but Kirehe were very well organized defensively and proved hard to beat. We have tried all we could to score goals because football is about goals, but we have failed,” said Mulisa. APR dominated but failed to score while Hamisi ‘Kishi’ Sogonya’s Kirehe also had chances to score on counter attacks but were unable to convert them. APR returned rejuvenated after the break, but their dominance counted for nothing as Issa Bigirimana, Onesme Twagizimana and Djihad Bizimana failed to use their chances to earn their team three points. On the other end, forward Jean Paul Uwimbabazi hit the post while Simon Shauri Nyamugenda, Ismi Kagabo and Ibrahim Ndikubasabo also wasted decent chances to get Kirehe what would have been a massive victory. Elsewhere, AS Kigali beat Amagaju 1-0 at Stade de Kigali courtesy of Janvier Cyubahiro’s strike in the 77th minute. The win saw Eric Nshimiyimana’s team leapfrog Police FC in third place with 39 points. Police, on 36 points, were due to face struggling Mukura Victory Sports on Sunday at Huye Stadium. In Rusizi, Espoir played 1-1 draw against visitors Gicumbi FC. Felicien Nkurunziza put the home team ahead after just nine minutes before Rachid Mutebi equalized for Godfroid Okoko’s team on the stroke of half time. Pepiniere got their second win of the season after beating eighth-placed Etincelles 2-0 at Ruyenzi ground. Mohammud Kabura and Gilbert Mugisha scored for the bottom-placed side in the 29th and 44th minutes respectively. editorial@newtimes.co.rw