Table-toppers AS Kigali stumble as APR close gap

STRIKER Hussein Cyiza Mugabo’s second-half winner helped Mukura to a 2-1 victory over table-toppers AS Kigali in the ninth round of the Turbo King Football league at Stade de Kigali yesterday.AS Kigali, who saw their lead at the summit pegged back to just a point with second-placed APR winning away to Musanze, were the favourites against a Mukura side that had only won three of their previous eight games.Indeed the visitors had looked the second-best team in the early stages of the game and they paid for their lackluster performance when Bodo Ndikumana put hosts AS Kigali ahead on the 20th minute.But Huye-based outfit looked sharper in the second half, and found the equalizer through Nelson Minani 12 minutes after recess.The response from the travelling fans was terrific as Andre Gasambungo’s boys increasingly threatened AS Kigali’s goalie Dominique Nsengimana. And then, as pressure increased on the home side, Hussein Cyiza Mugabo, who has just earned his maiden call-up to Amavubi Stars – somehow eliminated two defenders to put Mukura ahead on 65th minute.He had wrapped up the proceedings; AS Kigali pressed on for an equalizer in vain, and in the end walked off the pitch a disappointed lot.That was AS Kigali’s second loss in nine league games, and Mukura’s fourth win.Why the Kigali side remains at the summit of the league standings, with 21 points, they saw their lead cut to just one point as APR won 1-0 against Musanze on the same evening.For Cedric Kaze’s Mukura, who have struggled since the start of the season, mustering only three wins and nine goals in the previous eight matches, yesterday’s victory moved them into the ninth spot, with 12 points.The win against a hitherto high-flying AS Kigali side will have motivated the old giants who can only hope to build on that result for a resurgence.Striker Michel Ndahinduka scored the lone goal of the game as APR outplayed Mukura to extend their recent good form, which also saw them beat arch-rivals and champions Rayon Sports last week.The result saw APR close the gap on AS Kigali, with the former accumulating 20 points in nine games – a point adrift the leaders.Musanze dropped to fourth with 17 points.Elsewhere, SC Kiyovu jumped into third position with 18 points after thrashing Sam Ssimbwa’s Police FC 2-0 at Mumena turf. Hussein Habimana and Ali Musa scored the vital goals for the old giants who have started to regain their form following a poor start to the season.And, it was a shock for defending champions Rayon Sports as they suffered a second loss in a space of four days – this time at the hands of lowly Etincelles.Playing from their own backyard, the Rubavu-based team condemned Rayon to a 2-1 defeat, thanks to brilliant strikes from veteran striker Yussuf Kayihura Chami and Arafat Bahame.Meddie Kagere scored the consolation for the visitors who subsequently slipped to fifth place with 16 points – five behind early pace-setters AK Kigali.In Nyamagabe, Amagaju under their new coach Godfroid Okoko, snatched their first win of the season after edging Gicumbi 1-0 at Nyagisenyi Stadium.Amagaju are now just above the relegation zone, in 12th position with five points, two better than Esperance and AS Muhanga.