Police eye win against Rayon Sports

TodayPolice vs Rayon 3.30pmPrimus National Football League title hopefuls Police FC host their main rivals Rayon Sport in a clash between the two teams on Sunday at Amahoro stadium.Second-placed Police won 2-0 over SC Kiyovu in their last league outing, while the league leaders Rayon also won 2-0 against Mukura. Both come into today’s game as the two in-form teams in the top flight division.However, the Blues had their 10-match winning streak ended in mid week after they got knocked out of the Peace Cup against Malaria following a 2-1 loss to second division side Bugesera in the round of 16.Rayon leads the standings with 41 points, one ahead of closest rivals Police after 19 rounds of matches played this season.With both clubs out of the Peace Cup and no other competition to think about, all focus will be winning the Primus league. This match was set to be played early this month but due to Police’s engagements in Africa Confederation Cup, it was moved to today.“This is an important game to us. We have prepared well for the past three week and although I have injury concerns, I am still optimistic we can play good football and also win, it’s important that we don’t lose this game,” Police Coach Goran Kopunovic, whose side has lost just once in the league, told Sunday Sport.Rayon goes into the game hoping to avoid a second loss in a space of four days and also increase their hopes of winning the league for the first time in eight years.Team manager Thierry Hitimana acknowledged the fact that they underrated Bugesera. “Since Wednesday, we have been working hard on the psychological aspect of players and I believe they are ready for the Police game.”“We can’t afford to lose this game, winning the league title is something we have discussed at length, so if we’re to achieve our dream, we need to win or avoid defeat, which keeps us at the top,” added the former AS Kigali coach.Police suffered their lone loss of the season as they went down 2-0 against today’s opponents just over a month ago. In the past eleven matches, Police has won two against the five wins for Rayon, while the other four meetings have ended in draws.The Cops side has the best defense so far which has only conceded 11 goals whereas Rayon emerge as the best striking force with 40 goals scored.Any slip on top, APR which is looming behind on third position will be given a chance to take over. The defending champions have 35 points, six points behind Rayon and five behind second-placed Police.Rayon Sport’s chances of winning the Primus league this year lie on how they will overcome Police today as well as other stiff competition from rivals Kiyovu, Isonga, Etincelles, AS Muhanga, Musanze and Espoir in the remaining fixtures for the blues.Police FC who are second can also win the title if Rayon Sport falters along the way and hope they win their remaining fixtures against Etincelles, AS Muhanga, Musanze, Espoir, Amagaju and AS Kigali,