Today’s fixture APR v Atraco, 3:30pmMukura v Rayon SportEtincelles v MarinesKibuye v ElectrogazAS Kigali v Police Tomorrow Kiyovu v Military All roads will lead to Gikondo this after when bitter rivals APR and Atraco face-off at Mironko stadium in the national football league. The champions go into today’s tie hoping to resurrect their season that has seen them win three and draw two of their five fixtures against an in-form Atraco side that has won all their opening five matches. The nine-time league champions won their first three fixtures but two consecutive draws in the last two outings against struggling sides, have raised question marks about the young side’s ability to defend their title. A one-all draw against new boys Electrogaz and a goalless draw against lowly Kibuye are not signs of a side challenging to win a record tenth league title. Andy Mfutila side is placed fourth on the league table with 11 points, four behind pace setters and their opponents this afternoon, Atraco. There is no love lost between these two sides and for more than one reason; the two teams go into the game with a number of scores to settle. Jean Marie Ntagwabira, the Atraco coach has his own reasons for wanting to beat APR much as is a host of his players who we should not forget were on APR payroll just last season. Congolese coach Mfutila is looking for his first league win against today’s opponents since taking over. Last season, Atraco did a double over their archrivals. The military side will be without their Rwandan international striker Elias Uzamukunda who was red carded in their last fixture away to Kibuye while Cameroonian import Philip Belinga is out with a knee injury. Nonetheless, Mfutila said, “We are ready for the tie and in our camp, we believe that with God on our side, we shall get the three points”. However, his opposite number also has his own ideas, “I want three points and nothing short of that”. “At the moment, I think I have the best team in the country. We don’t have any injuries and every body in our camp is just pumped up for the game against APR,” stated the ex-APR player and later coach. Ntagwabira is expected to field up to six former APR players; Yusuf Kayihura, Andre Lomami, Alimansi Kadogo, Mutesa Mafisango, Manfred Kizito and Jean Shyaka in his starting team. Elsewhere this afternoon, fifth placed Rayon Sports have a tricky away one against Mukura in third place at Huye stadium. The Huye side did a double over the blues last season, a fact that makes today’s clash a mouth-watering considering the fact that the visitors have not had the best start to the season. The five-time league champions have seven points, five behind Mukura after five matches. Mukura have the chance to go second with a win because Kiyovu don’t play until tomorrow when they host bottom side Military at Mumena stadium in Nyamirambo. Table standing Team PD Pts GD Atraco 5 15 11 Kiyovu 5 15 9 Mukura 5 12 8 APR 5 11 6 Rayon Sports 5 7 1 AS Kigali 5 7 0 Police 5 5 -1 Electrogaz 5 3 0 Marines 5 3 -3 Etincelles 5 2 -2 Kibuye 5 2 -9 Military 5 1 -8 Ends
