Mukura have chance to win league, says coach

SundayMiroplast 1-1 Police FCAS Kigali 3-2 SunriseMarines 2-1 EtincellesRayon Sports 0-0 Mukura SaturdayAPR FC 2-1 Kirehe FCBugesera 1-0 GicumbiMusanze 2-1 AmagajuSC Kiyovu 2-0 Espoir With six games played so far in the Azam Rwanda Premier League this season, the race for the title remains open, Mukura coach Christian Francis Haringingo said after his team held Rayon Sports to a goalless draw on Sunday. The draw left Mukura in sixth place with nine points, four behind leaders APR FC, who defeated Kirehe 2-1 on Saturday, while defending champions Rayon Sports remain 8th, five points off the pace. Haringingo admitted that, “The battle for the title is on because, realistically, even us (Mukura) are still very much in the race. Of course, APR are ahead of us by four points but we will continue try to improve.” “The title race is still wide open, we are not even at the halfway stage of the season and you can see that a number of clubs can win the league, so it is not finished for us or other teams and I am sure the next games will be tough for every club,” the Burundian said. It was Rayon Sports’ first match since the death of their assistant coach Hamadi ‘Katauti’ Ndikumana, who passed away last Tuesday. And in the absence of head coach Olivier Karekezi, who remains in Police custody as investigations continue into allegations of cybercrime charges against him, Mukura dominated the game at Kicukiro Stadium but failed to break down the reigning champions. However, interim coach Marcel Lomami admitted that the players are still struggling to come to terms with situation that the club is going through. “Our target at the start of the season was to challenge for trophies, including the league and nothing has changed. Personally, I would like to finish my time at this club with a league title,” he noted. The former SC Kiyovu centre-back added, “We’re going through a difficult period, but we shall overcome it and continue working hard to achieve our target. It’s disappointing not to get a win today but we can take a point.” Jimmy Mulisa’s APR FC have amassed 13 points from 6 games but have a tough run of games coming up including their next fixture against Police FC (away) on Saturday, after which they face Mukura (home) and then Amagaju (away). Fourth-placed Police were held to a 1-1 draw by new boys Miroplast FC, who dropped to bottom place with five points, while third-placed AS Kigali won in a five-goal thriller 3-2 against Sunrise at Kigali Stadium. Etincelles dropped to fifth place after losing the Rubavu derby 2-1 against archrivals Marines, who jumped to ninth place with 9 points. Earlier on Saturday, SC Kiyovu moved to second place with 12 points following a 2-0 victory against Espoir FC at Mumena Stadium, courtesy of a second half brace from skipper Fabrice Mugheni Kakule in the 60th and 79th minutes.