Rayon seek to complete double over Espoir

Turbo King National Football league returns this weekend after a two-week break with leaders Rayon Sports taking on fifth-placed Espoir on Sunday at Stade de Kigali. Rayon top the league standings with 43 points, level with second-placed APR FC, who host struggling Mukura on Saturday but the reigning champions have a better goal difference of one goal. The Nyanza-based outfit goes into the tricky tie with some players nursing injuries and others on suspension. Key players suspended for tomorrow’s game include; the Burundian duo of striker Cedric Amissi and Karim Nizigiyimana, who join the injured pair of Aphrodis Hategikimana and Alype Majyambere. In the absence of talisman Amissi, who has scored 9 league goals, Eymeal will look at 8-goal hero Meddie Kagere and Papy Kamanzi in search for goals. Emmanuel Ruremesha’s side, which succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat in the corresponding fixture in Rusizi, will be without experienced defender Aimable Rucogoza. Rayon Sports team manager Thierry Hitimana, who also doubles as Eymeal’s second assistant coach along with Billy Kombi Mbusa, told Saturday Sport yesterday that the Blues will be going for nothing less than maximum points. Espoir have been difficult to beat this season, having lost only twice (only APR has lost less) and drawn eight times in 18 league matches. Only Etincelles, with nine, have drawn more. “The league is getting very tough as the season nears the end. Every point will count and we expect a very tough match against a difficult side,” said Hitimana. The former Rayon Sports midfielder added, “We have key players missing because of injuries and suspension but whoever gets the chance to play will be up for the challenge. This is a big game for us and we must win to stay at the top of the table.” Ruremesha, a former Rayon Sports coach, has urged his players to make up for the painful first round home defeat. “The players are ready to show their quality and rise up to the challenge. We need maximum points because a win will boost our chances of edging closer to the top four,” he noted. “Playing against Rayon Sports is not easy but I believe we have the potential to revenge for the loss in the first round. We will be out there to play for a win,” he added. On Saturday, second-placed APR take on ninth-placed Mukura at Stade de Kigali, starting at 3:30pm in a game that the military side will be hoping to win to go top for at least 24 hours. However, Vincent Mashami’s team will be without influential midfielder Jean Baptista Mugiraneza and right back Michel Rusheshangonga, who suffered knee injuries during the Amavubi international friendly match against Burundi in Bujumbura on Wednesday. Elsewhere, eighth-placed Etincelles hosts Police which is in sixth position at Umuganda stadium. The bottom of the table clash between second from bottom AS Muhanga and bottom side Amagaju in Nyamagabe is also on today.