Can Rayon Sports disarm APR in topflight clash?

Sunday Rayon Sports vs APR 3:30pm Police vs Marines Etincelles vs Espoir Isonga vs Kiyovu Amagaju vs Sunrise Mukura vs AS Kigali Musanze vs Gicumbi Rayon Sports will be looking to avoid a double league defeat against APR when the two archrivals face off in the National Football League tomorrow at Amahoro stadium. The Blues, who currently sit on fifth position with 25 points, 10 adrift of the table leaders APR after 15 rounds of matches, will be hoping to avenge for the first round loss in November last year at the same venue. Reigning league champions, APR overcame Rayon Sports 2-1 in the first round and according to the Blues’ interim head coach Sosthene Habimana, tomorrow’s encounter is a must-win for his side. He said the players’ confidence is back especially after the Confederation Cup win in Cameroon last weekend against Panthéré Sportive du Ndé. “We have been training well and our new signing Pierrot Kwizera from Burundi has been part of the sessions since Wednesday and we hope that he will add a lot to our attack,” revealed the confident Habimana. According to the former Rayon Sports defender, the Nyanza-based outfit can still win the league title but only if they win all their remaining 11 games and hope for their opponents to slip up more than thrice to stand any chance. Meanwhile, APR will be hoping to maintain their considerable gap between them and the chasing pack with victory over their greatest enemies. Interim head coach Vincent Mashami has a fully fit squad to select from with the game expected to be won in midfield. The battle between APR’s creative midfielders Jean Claude Iranzi, Yannick Mukunzi or Andrew Buteera against Rayon’s Robert Ndatimana, Djihad Bizimana or Leo Uwambajeman will provide for a decent match-up in the highly anticipated clash which is expected to attract a full house at the 40,000-seater Amahoro stadium. Further up the field, Rayon Sports captain Fuadi Ndayisenga, strikers Peter Otema and Isaac Muganza will be up against Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Emery Bayisenge and Ismael Nshutiyamagara in attempt to make it count and this too is expected to present another worthwhile battle. Elsewhere, Mukura will host second-placed AS Kigali at Muhanga stadium with Eric Nshimiyimana’s side eyeing three points to close the seven-point gap with leaders, APR. Fourth-placed Police host Marines at the Kicukiro stadium in the battle of the forces as the law enforcers hope to revenge their first round 3-1 loss in Rubavu. Andre Cassa Mbungo’s side will be eyeing a return to winning ways after a shocking 2-1 loss to SC Kiyovu in midweek. Struggling Isonga FC will be without talisman Kevin Muhire due to suspension when they host Kiyovu at the Ferwafa ground. Innocent Seninga’s youthful Isonga will be looking to register their second victory of the season that could boost their chances of avoiding a quick return to the second tier division. In the past five meetings between the two sides, Kiyovu have managed just one win, with the rest ending in draws. Rusizi-based Espoir travel to Rubavu to take on Etincelles at the Tam Tam stadium, while Amagaju host Sunrise in Nyamagabe. Musanze will host Gicumbi in Musanze. Top scorers Baby Mbakiye SC Kiyovu 9 Jean Pierre Muhindo Amagaju 8 Bienvenue Mugenzi Marines 6 Ernest Sugira AS Kigali 6 Isaac Muganza Rayon Sports 5 Peter Otema Rayon Sports 4 Patrick Munyankindi Sunrise 4 Maxime Sekamana APR FC 4 Jacques Tuyisenge Police FC 4 Mustafa Kasolo Gicumbi 4 League table Team PD W D L Pts APR 15 11 2 2 35 AS Kigali 15 8 4 3 28 Rayon Sports 15 6 7 2 25 Gicumbi 17 6 7 4 25 Police 15 6 6 3 24 Amagaju 17 6 6 5 24 SC Kiyovu 17 6 6 5 24 Sunrise 16 5 9 3 21 Marines 16 5 6 4 21 Espoir 17 6 3 8 21 Mukura 17 3 7 7 16 Musanze 17 3 5 9 14 Etincelles 16 3 5 8 14 Isonga 15 1 5 10 8