Buoyant SC Kiyovu look to build on APR win

SC Kiyovu will be seeking to add another victory to last week’s win over APR when they take on Gicumbi FC on match-day five of the Azam Rwanda Premier League on Friday at Stade de Gicumbi. Andre Casa Mbungo’s side ended a 12-year losing streak against the army side with a famous hard-fought 1-0 victory, courtesy of forward Francis Mustafa, while Gicumbi suffered a 4-0 heavy defeat against AS Kigali. “Our aim is to keep winning our matches because we want to stay near the top of the table. It is hard to play against Gicumbi especially at their place but we’re confident we can win the game to continue our good start,” Casa Mbungo said on Thursday. He further noted that, “Last week’s win (over APR) boosted our confidence and morale; it will be disappointing if we don’t build on it with another win.” His counterpart of Gicumbi, Godfroid Okoko, too believes his side that won the first two fixtures, can earn maximum points to halt a run of back to back defeats in the last two outings, but predicts it will be a tough task. “We’re facing a team that is high on confidence after beating APR last week, they also have a good coach, but we also want to win the game for our own reasons. We believe in ourselves so we will go for three points,” Okoko told Times Sport. Last season, Gicumbi FC survived relegation on the last day despite losing to Pepiniere, while SC Kiyovu dropped to the second tier for the first time in the club’s 53-year history but got a second chance to stay after promoted Isonga FC withdrew from playing in the topflight. Police leads the table with nine points, two ahead of APR, AS Kigali, Rayon Sports and Mukura Victory Sports, who are second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. Etincelles, Amagaju, SC Kiyovu and Gicumbi are sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth with six points each and only separated by goal difference. Matches involving Rayon Sports, APR, Police and AS Kigali have been postponed due to Amavubi’s CHAN 2018 playoff qualifier first leg against Ethiopia that will be played on Sunday in Addis Ababa. editorial@newtimes.co.rw