The Kigali stadium in the heart of Nyamirambo will be the place to be on Saturday, February 26 when league leaders APR FC host Rayon Sports in the Rwanda premier league. Games between these two glamorous clubs can be termed as the Rwandan version of “El Classico” and it is always the biggest match of the season in the country’s football calendar. Over the years, APR FC has been the dominant side in games between the two teams with Rayon’s last victory coming in the 2018/2019 season. The last game between the two teams which was in the first round of the league ended 2-1 in favour of the army side although it was Rayon Sports who first took the lead. With eight points separating the two teams as APR have 40 points, the game this weekend promises a lot of action and spectators will be served with quality football. Times Sport takes a look at five players who could decide the outcome of this crunch fixture. Yannick Bizimana The midfielder has been instrumental for APR this season with some topnotch performances as they sit on top of the league log with forty points. Bizimana has netted five goals so far this campaign and will marshall his side’s midfield on Saturday. He was one of the best players on the field in the first round encounter between the two clubs. If Bizimana has his day, expect APR to kill the game early. Leandre Willy Onana By far Rayon Sport’s best player so far in the league this season. The Cameroonian import netted the opener in the first round game between the two teams before APR rallied back to snatch the three maximum points. The striker got injured towards the end of the first round of the league and has missed his club’s last couple of games. Should Onana get fit before Saturday, he could be the deciding factor of this epic encounter. Djabel Manishimwe He has undoubtedly been very key to the success of APR with some breathtaking performances in the middle of the pitch. His outstanding output has been crucial for the defending champions and he has also been the catalyst for most of their wins. Manishimwe was unplayable in midfield when the two teams met on November 23, 2021 and he is expected to be in his element once again this weekend. Kevin Muhire The Rayon Sports skipper was very lively in the first round game between the two clubs and was the only midfielder in his team who could hold the ball and surge forward. Muhire played in a withdrawn midfield role in the first encounter as one of the two midfield anchors of his team and it was very clear that then coach Juma Masuidi got it wrong as he was the superb anytime he moved forward. If Muhire plays on Saturday and the Rayon technical team can vary their tactics by either handing him a free role or deploy him in offensive midfield, he can be the one to give them the three maximum points. Bosco Ruboneka One of the players in APR FC’s fearsome midfield trio who is having an exceptional season. Ruboneka has been in a class of his own for the league leaders and will be a player to watch out for on Saturday. He is a long range specialist and Rayon Sports fans will remember him for his superb 25 yard goal in the first leg. Ruboneka can decide the game on his own with just one moment of individual brilliance.
