Espoir look to pile more misery on lowly Esperance

SaturdayEspoir vs Esperance 3p.mMuhanga vs MarinesEarly season high-flyers Espoir FC are targeting nothing less than maximum points when they host second from bottom Esperance in the ninth round of the Turbo King National Football League on Saturday.Emmanuel Ruremesha’s side are in sixth position and a win over the struggling league newcomers would take them above Rayon Sports (in fifth) and Musanze (fourth) into third place, and level with SC Kiyovu on 18 points.Espoir, early on in the 2013/14 season, have won four, drawn three and lost one of their eight games and coach Ruremesha is confident ahead of today’s clash against a team that has managed just one win in eight.Esperance’s only win came against Amagaju and the coach Camalade Banamwana has his work cut out as he leads the Kimisagara-based side down to Rusizi.Ruremesha, who joined Espoir this season, has given his players a target of finishing inside the top six at the end of the season and believes the team is on track towards realising that goal.Speaking to Saturday Sport yesterday, the former Kibuye, Atraco, Mukura, Rayon Sports and La Jeunesse tactician said, “We have the potential to win the game on Saturday and continue to be among the best teams in the league.”“It’s a dream start for us. The players have been terrific and we shall continue to work hard so we can achieve our target. The players have shown that they care about this club,” he said.But his opposite number, Banamwana, also insists they are desperate to beat Espoir and dig themselves out of the relegation zone.“We need those three points more than they do, we need to come out of relegation (zone). We know we are going to play against a team that has made a strong start to the season and will be playing in front of their supporters; but in football anything can happen,” said the former Bugesera FC coach.Esperance, who have collected a paltry three points from the eight games played so far, have already lost six times in the league this season.Elsewhere, on Saturday, bottom side AS Muhanga host Marines, who are Marines in the eleventh spot.The other ten teams played their ninth round matches in midweek to allow Amavubi Stars players to take part in an international friendly against Uganda Cranes due today in Kampala.