Reigning league champions APR FC are on top of the league table standings with 17 points from seven games as the National Football League takes a two-week break. Despite missing up to eight players through injury and ineligibility to play, the army side has held on to their one point lead over their archrivals Rayon Sports, whom they beat 2-1, a week ago. APR’s captain Ismael ‘Kodo’ Nshutiyamagara explained that, “We have young players who are ready to listen and learn. This has been very important for us to cope without the regular senior players.” In the absence of number one choice goalkeeper Jean Claude Ndoli, the replacement, Olivier Kwizera has only conceded 3 goals—one each against AS Kigali, Rayon Sports and Marines. Without the Ugandan-born duo of Andrew Buteera and Charles Tibingana, who are yet to prove their Rwandan nationality as per the home-grown policy adopted by the club, Yannick Mukunzi, Patrick Sibomana and Maxime Sekamana have stepped up to the occasion. The experience displayed by Nshutiyamagara, midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza and Djamal Mwiseneza has come in handy for Ljubomir Petrovic’s youthful side that is eyeing a record extending 15th league title. Rayon Sports have since recovered from their 1-2 loss to APR to win two straight games including a 1-0 win over Espoir and a 2-0 victory against Gicumbi. The Blues’ interim head coach Sosthene Habimana explained that it is very significant that they are one point behind the table leaders. The former champions resume training on Thursday but will be without captain Fuadi Ndayisenga, who is out for a month with an ankle injury. Promising after the first two games of the season after scoring six goals and conceding none, Police FC has since drawn four times and lost to lowly Marines 1-3. Head coach Andre Cassa Mbungo has blamed his side’s dismal performance on the injury crisis that has severely affected his side. Missing striker Kipson Atuheire and leftback Mwemere Ngirinshuti has not made matters any easier but with the international break, Mbungo believes Police will come back stronger. League table TEAM PD W D L Pts APR 7 5 2 0 17Rayon Sports 7 5 1 1 16SC Kiyovu 7 4 1 1 13Amagaju 7 3 2 2 11AS Kigali 7 3 3 1 10Police 7 2 4 1 10Sunrise 7 2 3 2 9Musanze 7 2 3 2 9Gicumbi 7 2 2 3 8Marines 7 2 2 3 8Espoir 7 2 1 4 7Etincelles 7 1 2 4 5Mukura VS 7 0 3 4 3Isonga 7 0 3 4 3
