Gomes tips Rayon to retain league title

SundayMusanze 1-0 Amagaju Marimes 1-0 Mukura Eesperance 0-2 APR FC SaturdayKiyovu SC 0-0 Rayon Sports Gicumbi 1-1 Police FCESPOIR FC 2-1 AS KigaliEtincelles FC 0-0 AS MuhangaRayon Sports head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has tipped his team to retain the league title. He said, the new signings of 21-year-old Moses ‘Shukuru’ Kanamugire and 17-year-old Jihad Bizimana is part of the bigger strategy to win this year’s title. Full back Kanamugire was signed from La Jeunesse, while defensive midfielder Bizimana came from Etincelles. Since joining the champions from the now defunct La Jeunesse, the two youngsters have been regular in the first team in the opening two Turbo King Football League matches where they have picked four points.“They are still young players without enough experience to play for big teams, but I am positive both will be big players for Rayon Sports as the season progresses and as they get used to the environment,” the Frenchman told Times Sport at the weekend.He noted, “They both have potential to be future Rwandan internationals if they continue to grow and do well for their club. As someone, who brought to the club and works with them every day, I have really good players.”“But of course you have got to understand they are both still new to the club, so they need time to settle in. We hope they will be key players this season and even better the next,” he added.The Blue drew 0-0 against archrivals SC Kiyovu on Saturday in the second league match of the season, having started their defence of their title with 2-1 win against Gicumbi. And with four points, two points behind early season pace setters, APR and in the top four after two rounds of matches, Gomes says he sees no reason to start panicking.“We have played two good teams with very experienced coaches, who know Rwandan football very well, so to have four points after two matches is a good return for us, I don’t see anything strange with the situation,” he stated.Perfect APRAPR climbed to the top of the league table after a comfortable 2-0 win over newcomers Esperance FC at Stade de Kigali, on Sunday. Record 13-times league champions remain the only team with a perfect record after two matches.Isaiah Isonga and Patrick ‘Pappy’ Sibomana scored for Andreas Spier’s side in either half of the game on a weekend when all the potential title contenders either drew or lost their matches.It was the second successive loss for Esperance after their defeat to Police FC on the first weekend. APR kicked off their pursuit for a record extending 14th league title with a 6-2 win mauling of Marines FC the previous weekend.