The race for the topflight league promotion is taking shape with a host of second division league clubs fighting for a place among eight top spots available for the playoffs. With the privilege of playing in the Rwanda Premier League at stake, teams are giving everything to secure the tightly-contested promotion. The 2022/23 second division regular season football league concludes on March 25 and teams have only three games remaining to save their chances of securing tickets to the playoffs. Times Sports takes a closer look at what is at stake as the race to the playoffs reaches an interesting stage. Which teams have qualified to the play-offs? Former top flight league teams Etoile de l’Est, Amagaju and Gicumbi FC are the only teams that have secured their tickets to the playoffs. Who is still in the running for a playoffs berth? With Etoile already through to the playoffs, Vision FC, AS Muhanga, La Jeunesse, Ivory Olympique and Kirehe will be fighting to the three spots that are up for grabs in Group A while there are two tickets to play for in Group B with Nyanza FC, Intare FC, Heroes and Rugende still in race to make it to the playoffs. Group A Vision FC Second in Group A with 30 points, Vision FC stand a chance to qualify should they win at least one from a possible three games remaining before the regular season concludes. The club has an eight-point gap clear of fifth-placed Ivory Olympique and both teams will face each other in the next fixture 16 of the league from which a would suffice to definitely qualify for the playoffs. Remaining matches: Ivory Olympique, March 11 (A), Etoile de l’Est, (March 18 (H) and Vision JN, March 24 (A). AS Muhanga AS Muhanga are also in pole position to set their feet in the playoffs as they will be playing two of their last three matches at home. The former topflight side, who currently sit third with 26 points, also need at least one win and a draw in the last three matches to progress to the playoffs. Remaining fixtures: Interforce, March 11 (H), ASPOR, March 18 (A) and Ivoire Olympique, March 24 (H). La Jeunesse La Jeunesse sit fourth in Group A with 23 points, a point clear of Ivoire Olympique who remain their biggest threat to their top four finish. The club stands their chances of qualifying to the playoffs as long as they win all their three remaining fixtures. Otherwise any slip up would see them drop out of the top four as long as Ivoire Olympique win all their remaining games. Kirehe also remain a candidate to the playoffs as long as they win their remaining fixtures and wait for their rivals to drop points. Group B The race for the Second Division to the playoffs in Group B looks a bit tighter than in Group A, with five teams competing for the remaining two top four positions. Nyanza FC Third-placed Nyanza have the easiest test to secure a ticket to the playoffs as they have a seven-point advantage ahead of fifth-placed Heroes FC. They only need a draw in their three remaining fixtures to qualify. Remaining matches: Amagaju, March 12 (H), The Winners, March 19 (A) and Gasabo, March 25 (H). Intare FC Intare don’t have much to play for as they are not allowed to play in the top flight league, being a youth team of giants APR FC. However, they are allowed to play in the playoffs round. They now need at least a win and a draw from their remaining games to go through to the playoffs Remaining matches: Rugende, March 11 (H), Heroes, March 19 (H) and Gicumbi, March 24 (A). Heroes and Rugende are out of the top four. The former can qualify only if they win their matches and Intare FC lose two of their last three matches. Meanwhile, Rugende are five points adrift of fourth-placed Intare and they can close the gap to the top four finish if they win their remaining matches and wait for both Heroes and Intare to lose at least two games.
