Rayon Sports, Mukura clash in Azam Rwanda Premier League

Saturday Rwamagana City vs Police FC Musanze FC vs SC Kiyovu Rayon Sports FC vs Mukura Sunday Marines FC vs AS Muhanga Sunrise FC vs Etincelles AS Kigali vs Gicumbi FC Rayon Sports and Mukura Victory Sports will face-off on match-day four of the Azam Rwanda Premier League today at Kicukiro stadium with both sides looking to win and move up in the table standing. Mukura, who are in third position on table with six points, one point behind joint leaders AS Kigali and Police FC visit seventh-placed Rayon Sports with four points seeking to recover from a defeat and draw from their last two matches against AS Kigali and Etincelles respectively. Since it was founded in May 1963, Mukura have won the Peace Cup four times, in 1978, 1986, 1990 and 1992 but have not won the league title. Rayon Sports have been Rwandan champions seven times, the latest coming in 2013. Mukura head coach Godfrey Okoko believes his side can beat any team in the league, “We are going for a win against Rayon Sports. We know they are good team but we know our chances of beating them are quite good.” “We have done it against APR and I believe we can do it again (against) Rayon Sports. The fixture between Mukura and Rayon is always one of the biggest games of the season. We will try to minimize their goal scoring chances,” Okoko told Saturday Sport on Thursday. The Burundi-born former Amagaju FC tactician explained that, “This is an important game for this club and one that we really want to win; hopefully we will win it.” His opposite number David Donadei of Rayon Sports whose team has won one, lost one and drawn one of their first three league matches, admits that today’s game may not be decisive and not a must-win but that it’s important he gets back to winning ways. “This is the biggest and most important match for Rayon Sports so far this season, not that it’s a title decider but because of the results from our last two games, which have not been very good,” said the Frenchman. He added, “Mukura have started the season so well and seem to be high on confidence but we want to win and that’s our target. It’s important to win this game because we need to get more points and move up the table.” In the past, 22 meetings in the league between the two teams, Huye-based Mukura have won only four while Rayon Sports have 13 wins with the other five encounters ending in draws. In last season, the first round ended goalless while the second round encounter was another stalemate only this time, it was 1-1. Celestin Ndayishimiye scored to put Mukura ahead before Frank Lomami equalized for the Nyanza-based Rayon Sports. During the Agaciro Development Fund pre-season tournament, Rayon Sports beat Mukura 2-1, thanks to goals by Nigerian tralists Augustine Onyeka and Irehe Emeka, while Hussein Cyiza netted Mukura’s goal. Okoko could welcome back into the starting team forwards Cyiza, Yves Kwizera and goalie Alphonse Nizeyimana. The trio played in the opening match of the season against Police where they lost 2-1 but missed the last two wins against APR (2-0) and Rwamagana City (2-1) due to injuries. Rayon Sports will see the return of midfielders Fabrice Mugheni Kasereka and Cedrick Mugenzi as well as centre-back James Tubane. Elsewhere, Andre Casa Mbungo’s second-placed Police travel east to take on Rwamagana City, who are in sixth place while third-placed Musanze FC host SC Kiyovu (5th) at Ubworoherane stadium. Kiyovu will be under care-taker coach Alloys Kanamugire in the absence of head coach Innocent Seninga, who travelled to Switzerland on Wednesday for a two-month training course. On Sunday, table leaders AS Kigali will be hoping to make it three wins in a row when they entertain Gicumbi FC (8th) at Mumena stadium in Nyamirambo following impressive wins over Rayon Sports (2-1) and Sunrise FC (4-0). Rubavu-based Marines FC (13th) will host bottom side AS Muhanga at Tam Tam stadium seeking to register their second win of the season and move up the table. Top scorers Rodriguez Murengezi AS Kigali 4 Peter Otema Musanze FC 3 Christophe Ndayishimiye Mukura 3 Davis Kasirye Rayon Sports 2 Songa Isaie Police FC 2 Djihad Rucogoza Bugesera FC 2 Andre Lomami SC Kiyovu 2 League table Team PD W D L Pts AS Kigali 3 2 1 0 7 Police 3 2 1 0 7 Mukura 3 2 0 1 6 Musanze 3 2 0 1 6 SC Kiyovu 3 1 2 0 5 Rwamagana 3 1 1 1 4 Rayon Sports 3 1 1 1 4 Gicumbi 3 1 1 1 4 Espoir 3 1 1 1 4 APR 3 1 1 1 4 Bugesera 3 1 1 1 4 Amagaju 3 1 1 1 4 Marines 3 1 0 2 3 Sunrise 3 1 0 2 3 Etincelles 3 0 1 2 1 AS Muhanga 0 0 0 0 0 editorial@newtimes.co.rw