Final stretch

Today APR v Etincelles 1:30pm Kiyovu v Rayon 3:30pm Mukura v Atraco Marines v Police Kibuye v Military Jabir Mutarambirwa and Elias Uzamukunda will be hoping to increase their goal tallies when APR entertains relegation-threatened Etincelles this afternoon at Nyamirambo stadium. The on-form duo has netted 22 times between themselves for the chasing military side chasing to a record tenth title in 14 seasons. Mutarambirwa in particular will be hoping to put on an eye catching displace especially with national team head coach Blanko Tucak expected to be in attendance. As for Uzamukunda, like every current national team player, will have a point or two to prove to the Croat whose debut as Amavubi Stars coach ended in a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Sudan on Sunday. In the wake of that defeat, Blanko promised that he could be tempted to make wholesale changes to the team that lost the first leg of the inaugural Africa nations Championship. APR’s new coach Rene Feller goes into today’s game needing nothing less than three points after losing to close rivals Atraco in the last fixture. New signing Moses Odhiambo is expected to make his debut in APR midfield, which did not turn up against Atraco. After missing the Amavubi Stars’ Sudan trip, Mbuyu Twite returns to the first team that is hoping to not drop any more points as the season enters the final stretch. The game should be a routine victory for APR who also beat the Gisenyi side 2-1 in their own backyard two months ago. As APR, second on the league table with 39 points, two behind Atraco, look for their tenth league title, Etincelles are bracing themselves for life in the second division. The Gisenyi outfit is bottom of the table having managed just 11 points from 17 games. The APR, Etincelles game will be followed by the biggest game of the day between traditional rivals Rayon Sports and Kiyovu SC at the same venue. As Kiyovu will be playing for pride, Rayon need all three points to keep alive their outside chances of finishing second and a place in next year’s Caf Confederations Cup. Raoul Shungu’ side is third, eight and six points behind Atraco and APR respectively but having played a game less, 15 compared to 16 for the top two. Kiyovu is fourth five points behind today’s opponents, having led the table for most of the first round until that fateful afternoon when they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 in the corresponding fixture. However, Labama Bokoto, the hero from that game after scoring the winning goal misses today’s tie. The Congolese born striker has been missing from the club’s training ground for the last month or so and he’s believed to have returned to his native DR Congo. Elsewhere, table toppers, Atraco have a tricky away fixture against Mukura at Huye stadium in the Southern Province.Head coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira returns to the bench after serving his four-match ban handed to him by Ferwafa for his comments after the league draw with Police in late March. The taxi-men side goes into today’s game confident after that 1-0 victory over their closest title challengers in their last game and they’ll be hoping to do a double over the Huye side. Atraco won the corresponding fixture 2-1 at Shyorongi. Ends

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Final stretch