Sunday Kiyovu Vs Rayon Friday Kirehe 1-0 Police Marines 2-0 Espoir Rayon Sports and archrivals SC Kiyovu lock horns in one of the biggest Azam Rwanda Premier League rivalries this afternoon. The game gets underway at 3:30pm, at Kigali Stadium. Kiyovu go into the match with a big task at hand to beat Rayon Sports who have dominated them in the last 23 years. The Mumena-based club have vowed they will not settle for less than a win as they seek to revive their hopes in the run for the league title. Most remembered for their 1990 unbeaten season, the green baggies have not won the league title since 1993. The Blues will go into the game seeking to unseat APR at the summit, should they beat Kiyovu with a win bigger than a three-goal margin. Ahead of the two sides’ clash, Roberto Oliviera’s Rayon are in third position with 12 points, three adrift of champions APR who have won each of their first five league games this season. The military side – who are yet to concede a goal this season – also possess a better goal difference (10) compared to Rayon’s seven. On the other hand, struggling Kiyovu are in eighth position with seven points, having won two games, drawn one and lost, respectively. “It will be a difficult task, but, we are ready. We need to make sure that we snatch the three points and keep pressure on APR and Mukura who are still unbeaten,” Oliveira said. This is the 49th time both sides are going to meet over the past 23 years in all competitions, and the 44th time in the league alone, of which Rayon won 24 times compared to Kiyovu’s 5. Both sides played out draws 15 times. “This is a big and an important match for Kiyovu. We have prepared for it in the best way possible. Our purpose will be to win the game,” said Djabil Mutarambirwa, SC Kiyovu assistant coach. In the 2016/2017 season, the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rayon Sports saw Kiyovu relegated to the second division for the first time in the club’s 53-year history but were handed a second chance to stay after then promoted Isonga FC withdrew from participating in the topflight league. By the time the two teams met at Mumena Stadium, Rayon Sports had already won the league but their old enemies, under interim coach Djabil Mutarambirwa, needed to win so badly to have any chance of avoiding the relegation. Meanwhile, Kirehe upset Police 1-0, thanks to the lone goal from Tresor Muhoza while Marines also overcame Espoir 2-0. Cedric Samba and Hamza Runanira were the scorers. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
