Retaining league title is my priority – Eymael

DEFENDING THE league title is Coach Luc Eymeal’s priority. Days after taking charge of the Blues, the Belgian believes he will achieve that fit after leading Rayon to the top of the table on Saturday. Eymael guided the Blues to a 4-2 win over AS Muhanga in his first game in charge, a result that put the Nyanza-based outfit ahead of archrivals APR on goal difference of 20 to 18. Both teams are tied on 37 points after 16 rounds of matches. This was Rayon’s third consecutive league win since the resignation of former coach Didier Gomes da Rosa three weeks ago. Rayon Sports are also returning to Africa Champions League for the first time since 2005, as they take on AS Leopards of Congo in the preliminary round, first leg this weekend in Brazzaville. Cedric Amiss, Kambale Salite Gentil aka Pappy Kamanzi, Arafat Serugendo and team captain Faudi Ndayisenga scored for the defending champions, while Naser Irakoze scored a brace for AS Muhanga, who dropped into the bottom two. “The team is doing well; we are leading the league, exactly where we want to be. Nonetheless, we must stay focused and try to win the remaining games, I am here to win and I want to win the league that’s my first priority,” Eymael said. Eymael observed that Rayon Sports is already a top side, which means he doesn’t have to change so much but “rather try to get the best out of the whole squad.” “The team is capable of winning the league, this is our main focus this season, next season we can raise our target plans,” he noted. Meanwhile APR did not only surrender the top spot for the first time in 12 weeks after being held to a goalless draw by fourth-placed AS Kigali but also had their head coach Andreas Spier sent off for arguing with the referee. The club also banned Spier for up to five games as a result of his behavior. The top two sides have a six point gap between them and Police, AS Kigali and Espoir, who are in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively, level on points but the Cops have a better goal difference. Sam Ssimbwa’s Police FC were held 0-0 by seventh-placed Musanze FC, while Espoir took advantage to close the gap with a 1-0 home win against Marines, who remain in the relegation zone with 10 points, three ahead of bottom side Esperance. Elsewhere, Etincelles beat visitors Mukura 3-0 at Umuganda stadium in Rubavu thanks to a brace from Yussuf Kayihura Chami and Arafat Bahame to move to eighth spot with 21 points, while Mukura remain stuck in ninth on 17 points. Gilbert Kanyankore’s SC Kiyovu consolidated the sixth position with a 2-0 win away to Gicumbi with goals coming from Julius Bakkabulindi and Gabriel Zigabe.