There is still a long way to go – Mashami

Sunday SC Kiyovu 0-0 Esperance Marines 2-1 Amagaju AS Kigali 1-1 Police Espoir 0-1 AS Muhanga Saturday Mukura VS 1-3 Rayon Sports APR 1-0 Etincelles Gicumbi 2-1 Musanze APR’s interim head coach Vincent Mashami has said his team’s 1-0 win over Etincelles on Saturday does not wish away the fact that there is still a long way to go. The win took the army side to 49 points, three ahead of second-placed and defending champions Rayon Sports, who won 3-1 away to Mukura. AS Kigali remain in third position with 38 points after coming from behind to draw 1-1 against Police FC, who moved above Espoir into fourth place on Sunday. Emmanuel Ruremesha’s team stumbled to a rare 1-0 home defeat against relegation threatened AS Muhanga in Rusizi. It was Espoir’s second home defeat and third overall in the league this season. With six rounds of matches remaining, it appears the title race is between APR and Rayon Sports, but Mashami says even though he is happy to lead the table at this stage- there is still a long way to go. APR will be up against their sworn enemies Rayon Sports on Sunday at the Stade de Kigali in a match which could have a bigger effect in the title race. “We are not excited by the weekend results but we are happy to be in this position at this stage in the season. There is still six more matches to play, so we can’t afford to think ahead of ourselves,” Mashami told Times Sport. He added, “It is good for us to lead the table but we are looking forward to the next game. We need to give our best in every game we play because we want to continue winning more games.” The military side overcame Etincelles thanks to a solitary goal scored by midfielder Jean Baptist Mugiraneza. The Rayon Sports head coach Luc Eymael said that his side is ready for the game and they are determined to win and move level with their rivals going into the final five games. “That is the biggest game of the season, but we are ready for it because it means a lot to both teams as far as the title race is concerned. If we win, we go top because we have a better goal difference but a win for APR would take them six points clear,” the Belgian said after his team’s 3-1 win over Mukura.