Etincelles storm top four, Ruremesha salutes players

Sunday Amagaju 0-2 AS KigaliGicumbi 0-1 EspoirEtincelles 3-1 Pipinierre SaturdayPolice 0-0 Mukura VS Bugesera 1-0 Marines Sunrise 0-1 Rayon Sports Etincelles head coach Emmanuel Ruremesha has saluted his players after thumping Pipiniere 3-1 in the national football league on Sunday at Umuganda Stadium to storm the top four in the table. Jean Baptiste Kayiranga’s team took the lead in the 16th minute through Gilbert Mugisha before Gentil Kambale Salita equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot three minutes later after Cedric Mugenzi was brought down in forbidden area. Forward Yves Manishimwe put Etincelles 2-1 up in the 24th minute before Ibrahim Kibonge Niyonsenge sealed the win in the 92nd minute. Pepiniere’s misery was compounded by the sending off of their coach Kayiranga 15 minute from time for arguing with referees. “We showed some good spirit in the first half to fight back, but failed to use our chances we got but I am happy with the way players responded especially in second half, we were the better side,” Ruremesha said after his team’s third win in five matches The win took the Rubavu-based side into fourth place with nine points, one behind third and second-placed Police and Sunrise FC respectively Reremesha’s team are four points adrift of league leaders Rayon Sports, who beat Sunrise 1-0 on Saturday in Nyagatare, courtesy of Pierrot Kwizera’s 73rd minute strike Former Gicumbi coach, Ruremesha added that, “We had studied their game well and we produced a good display. My players delivered a great performance. I am happy for their work and the character they have showed.” Meanwhile, his opposite number, Kayiranga, whose team are still looking for their first win of the season having lost four and drawn one, said, “It is frustrating results because we tried to dominate the game and score first but we are still lucking many things to win games like this.”League table Team PD W D L PtsRayon Sports 5 4 1 0 13Sunrise 5 3 1 1 10Police FC 5 3 1 1 10Etincelles 5 3 0 2 9Kirehe 4 3 0 9APR FC 4 2 2 0 8Bugesera 5 2 2 1 8AS Kigali 5 2 1 2 7Mukura 5 2 1 2 7Musanze 4 2 1 1 7Espoir 5 1 4 0 7Gicumbi 5 1 1 3 4SC Kiyovu 4 1 0 3 3Pepiniere 5 0 1 4 1Amagaju 5 0 1 4 1Marines 5 0 1 4 1 editorial@newtimes.co.rw