Police FC out to avoid any slip ups

TodayPolice vs SC Kiyovu 3:30pmEsperance vs Espoir Gicumbi vs Amagaju SundayRayon Sports vs Etincelles 3:30pmAPR vs Musanze Marines vs AS Muhanga Police Football Club take on SC Kiyovu in a potentially explosive Turbo King National Football League encounter this afternoon at Kigali regional stadium. Kickoff is 3:30pm. Both sides go into the game fresh from wins of their respective last outings. Sam Ssimbwa’s Police beat Mukura 2-0, which led to the resignation of the latter’s head coach Cedric Kaze, while SC Kiyovu registered a 2-1 win over AS Muhanga. The Cops stand in third position with 38 points, just a point adrift of their opponents, who are ranked fifth with five rounds of matches left to close the season. Ssimbwa’s side has shown attributes of title challengers but it’s probably a bit too late to catch the top two, Rayon Sports and APR. The team has lately displayed signs of coordinated troop movement and the fine form of play maker Jerome Sina and D’amour Uwimana - will be crucial. Police’s DR Congo-born Rwandan international striker Sina is aware of the huge expectations from the fans. “After last weekend’s win (against Mukura), we are confident of getting a good result against Kiyovu, we have to maintain our fine form,” Sina remarked. Assistant coach Djabir Mutarambirwa is aware that a victory will move them up the table. “We don’t want to lose points at this stage. We have to work hard to ensure that we win all the remaining matches,” said Mutarambirwa, who moved from Kiyovu to Police last season. SC Kiyovu’s veteran head coach Gilbert Kanyankole says his team is primed for the match. “It is going to be a tough match but we have to be confident that we can beat anyone, including Police on Saturday, it’s a game we have prepared for and we are hoping for the best,” the 60-year-old Kanyankore told Saturday Sport. He added, “We will not take the game lightly. We will give them the respect they deserve and play our usual football. Our aim is to win the match.” Ugandan striker Julius Bakabulindi has been flourishing for the Mumena-based Green Baggies, netting ten goals in 21 matches and he is the deadly weapon that Kanyankole will be hoping to unleash on the Cops. Elsewhere today, relegation battling Esperance host seventh-placed Espoir at Mumena stadium. Esperance are bottom of the 14-team league table standing with 12 points. In Gicumbi, Jean Baptist Kayiranga will hope to use home advantage to defeat second-from-bottom Amagaju in a bid to stay out of any relegation threat. On Sunday, defending champions Rayon Sports will host Etincelles at Kigali regional stadium. The Blues jointly lead the standings with 49 points, with a slim one goal difference over rivals APR, whom they beat 2-1 last weekend. Rayon coach Luc Eymael must avoid any slip-ups if he is to maintain the club’s bid of retaining the league title. However, the Belgian must do the job without key players like Hussein Sibomana, who is suspended and Karim Nizigiyimana, who has joined the list of injured players with a knee injury. APR, still coming to terms with losing to their biggest rivals in the title race, will be up against sixth-placed Musanze at Kicukiro ground. Coach Vincent Mashami, who has three key players Papy Siboamana and Isaie Isonga out due to injuries and lead striker Michel Ndahinduka through suspension, must ensure a positive comeback. Musanze’s league top scorer Wai Yeka (12 goals) will be the biggest threat for APR’s shaky defence which was exposed against Rayon Sports. In Rubavu, Marines take on Muhanga at Umuganda stadium. Both clubs are level on 17 points and a win for either side will bolster their chances of keeping clear of the relegation zone.

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Police FC out to avoid any slip ups