Skipper Thierry Manzi insists Rayon Sports have not given up on their push for the Azam Rwanda Premier League title this season. The star centre back prefers to focus on the prospects of their hunt despite being six points behind table leaders and defending champions APR with four match rounds to go Manzi says that ‘everything is still possible’ and the real test will come on April 20 when they take on APR at Kigali Stadium. Speaking to Saturday Sport on Friday, he played down suggestions that he can not lead Rayon to league glory this season, insisting that his concern is getting the job done one game at a time. Rayon boosted APR’s chances for a record-extending 18th league title last week after playing out a 1-all draw with AS Kigali, a day after the military side had beaten Sunrise 2-0. With 48 points from 22 games, Roberto Oliveira’s Rayon trail APR by six points. “For us, it’s about concentration until the end of the season. We want to take it game by game, there are four matches still to play,” said the Rwanda international. “Dropping points to AS Kigali was a terrible mistake,” a regretful Manzi said, adding that they should regroup and aim for victory against APR and three fixtures after. The topflight league and other sports activities in Rwanda start a short break Saturday as the country – on April 7 – starts the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rayon Sports last won the league title in 2017 under Burundian tactician Djuma Masudi, who has since departed the club. TABLE No Team PG W D L PTS 1 APR 22 17 03 02 54 2 Rayon 22 15 03 04 48 3 Mukura 22 13 06 03 45 4 Kiyovu 22 11 05 06 38 5 Police 22 10 04 08 34 6 Espoir 22 09 04 09 31 7 AS Kigali 22 07 08 07 29 8 Muhanga 22 07 08 07 29 9 Sunrise 22 07 06 09 27 10 Marines 22 06 08 08 26 11 Etincelles 22 07 03 12 24 12 Bugesera 22 05 09 08 24 13 Musanze 22 06 05 11 23 14 Gicumbi 22 05 03 12 20 15 Kirehe 22 03 08 11 17 16 Amagaju 22 04 03 15 15 LEADING SCORERS # Player Club Goals 1. Jules Ulimwengu Rayon 12 2. Djuma Nizeyimana Kiyovu 12 3. Yannick Bizimana Muhanga 10 4. Muhadjiri Hakizimana APR 10 5. Michael Sarpong Rayon 10 6. Tresor Ndikumana Amagaju 08 7. Samson Babuwa Sunrise 07 8. Lague Byiringiro APR 07 9. Isaie Songa Police 06 10. Steve Nzigamasabo Bugesera 06 editor@newtimesrwanda.com
