AS Kigali Women’s Football Club's winger, Zawadi Usanase, has said she is ready to face her former teammates in a highly anticipated encounter with Rayon Sports on Saturday, January 13 at Kigali Pele Stadium. This year’s January transfer window saw a couple of players crossing over from AS Kigali to rivals Rayon Sports, as the “Blues” splashed the cash to strengthen their ranks ahead of the second round of the women’s football league. READ ALSO: Ndakimana optimistic AS Kigali WFC can retain league title Despite Rayon acquiring some of AS Kigali's top players, Usanase insists her team is strong and ready to compete. We are well-prepared to face Rayon Sports. Their acquisition of our top players doesn't faze us. We have a strong team that can compete and beat them, she told Times Sport. The players who left AS Kigali for Rayon include midfielder Alodie Kayitesi and defender Immaculée Uwimbabazi. “AS Kigali WFC is determined to maintain our dominance in Rwandan women's football. We have the spirit and the talent to stay at the top,” Usanase added. A clash of the Titans: Despite the fact that this is Rayon Sports’ first season in the topflight, theirencounter with AS Kigali WFC is already being looked at as the women's football “Classico” in Rwanda. AS Kigali, a team that has dominated women’s football for years is now set to be challenged by a serious rival, Rayon, a club that has made good investment, for example in terms of recruiting quality players. It's going to be a tough game, but also an exciting one filled with emotions. Most of their players used to be on our team, so we know their style of play, and they know ours, said Usanase. Even though some important players left our team, we're still performing well, and we don't feel a big gap left by them, she added. In a separate interview, Alodie Kayitesi, who signed for Rayon Sports from AS Kigali in December, said that she is prepared to face her former teammates. “It is going to be a nice game with great ambitions. For me personally it’s going to be different because I played for AS Kigali in the first round when we drew 1-1. Now I am with Rayon and looking forward to tomorrow’s game with great excitement to see everyone again,” she said. “Of course, the rivalry is going to be there but football is football. Fair play is going to be there too,” she added.
