Football league to return April 15

Wednesday APR 3-1 AS KigaliEtincelles 1-1 Police FC Reigning champions APR FC thumped AS Kigali 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Kigali Regional Stadium to move top of the national league table for the first time this season. Goals from Jean Claude Iranzi (6th minute), Janvier Benedata (22) and Issa Bigirimana (27) earned Nizar Khanfir’s side maximum points, which saw them leapfrog archrivals Rayon Sports into top spot with 34 points at the halfway stage of the season. Striker Ornesme Twizeyimana scored AS Kigali’s consolation goal in the 76th minute as Eric Nshimiyimana’s team dropped to fifth spot with 28 points. AS Kigali have now lost three consecutive league games; against Mukura 2-1, Police 1-0 and APR 3-1. APR dominated the game in first half, scoring three times in the opening half an hour, but AS Kigali reorganised and played much better in the second half with striker Ernest Sugira hitting the post and Onesme Twizerimana missing a glorious opportunity. Elsewhere, Police FC dropped two points after being held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Etincelles at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu District. Faustin Habyarimana scored for Etincelles in the 39th minute while Isaie Songa equalised for Andre Cassa Mbungo’s side in the second half. The draw helped Mbungo’s side leapfrog AS Kigali in fourth spot with 28 points, thanks to a superior goal difference. Etincelles remain in relegation zone, in 15th place with 8 points from 15 matches. Second and third-placed Rayon Sports and Mukura Victory Sports have 32 points each, but the former have a better goal difference. The league broke off on Wednesday as the country started observing a weeklong commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and will resume next week, on April 15. editorial@newtimes.co.rw