Battle for top position as APR and Police clash

Friday APR FC vs Police 3:30pmBugesera vs Mukura Etincelles vs EspoirAmagaju vs Gicumbi Saturday SC Kiyovu vs Sunrise FC 3:30Pepiniere vs AS KigaliMarines vs KireheRayon Sport vs Musanze It will be a battle for the top position in the national football league when APR host Police FC at Kigali Regional Stadium today. Police will be seeking to win and leapfrog archrivals Rayon Sports at the top of the table—Rayon take on Musanze FC on Saturday. Jimmy Mulisa’s APR FC are unbeaten in nine games played so far, having registered seven wins and two draws, leaving them joint top with Rayon Sport on 23 points, but the Blues have a superior goal difference. A win today would see the league defending champions go three points clear at the top, at least for 24 hours while victory for third-placed Police FC would take them in a three-way joint lead at the top. After losing their league opener 3-0 to Rayon Sports, Innocent Seninga’s Police are unbeaten in the last eight matches (six wins and two draws). A win for Police would keep them very much in the title race. “Police have been very good and consistent this season and we expect a very tough game, however we are unbeaten and need to defend our title and you can only do that by taking points from your closest challengers,” said Mulisa. Mulisa will be missing two key midfielders; Yannick Mukunzi (suspension) and Andrew Buteera, who injured his hamstring in the last game against SC Kiyovu. Meanwhile, Seninga, who is bidding to become the first man to lead Police FC to the league title says, “We know APR quite well, and it is always tough facing them, but we have prepared for the game in the best way possible, we want to win and stay closer to the top two.” In their previous 14 meetings, APR have won six times against Police’s two while the other six matches have ended in draws. Last season the first round clash between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw while APR won the second round encounter 2-1. Elsewhere today, Vincent Mashami’s sixth-placed Bugesera FC will host Mukura Victory Sports while Espoir, in fourth place will be up against eighth-placed Etincelles at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu while Amagaju (13th) will host 15th-placed Gicumbi FC. editorial@newtimes.co.rw