Rayon’s McKenzie to miss Kiyovu clash

Rayon Sports will be without influential Karim ‘McKenzie’ Nizigiyimana for today’s league clash against old-rivals SC Kiyovu at Amahoro National Stadium. The corresponding fixture ended goalless.

Saturday, January 25, 2014
Karim u2018McKenzieu2019 Nizigiyimana in action during a previous match. Sunday Sport/File

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Rayon Sports will be without influential Karim ‘McKenzie’ Nizigiyimana for today’s league clash against old-rivals SC Kiyovu at Amahoro National Stadium. The corresponding fixture ended goalless.

The Burundian international fullback has been out of action for the past two weeks due to typhoid and his place on the right side in the backline could be taken by either Idi Nshiyimana or Arafat Serugendo, according to interim coach Mbusa Kombi Billy.

It will be a special occasion for some of players like Rayon Sports’ skipper Faudi Ndayisenga, midfielder Hussein Sibomana and striker Meddie Kagere will be coming up against their old club, while Kiyovu’s Pekeyake Tuyisenge faces his former employers for the first time.

The defending champions are second in the league with 31 points, two points behind leaders APR, while Kiyovu SC are sixth-placed with 25 points after 14 rounds of matches.

Kiyovu veteran coach Gilbert Yaoundé Kanyankore, also faces his former club for the second time this season since returning to the Rwandan league after a couple of years away in charge of Burundian champions Vital’O.

"We are playing with a big team, but we have prepared well, we don’t have any injury, we don’t have suspensions, my players have shown great desire to win every game and I believe we can secure three points on today,” he told Sunday Sport.

His counterpart, Mbusa will receive back goalkeeper Jean Luc Ndayishimiye and Abouba Sibomana and he told this paper that the team is ready for the big clash against a side he played against several times as a Rayon Sports player.

He said, "We will do everything to get three points, our opponents are strong and are also pushing hard to stay in the (title) race, but we know we can get the win. We will go into the game with strong mentality.”

Elsewhere today, league leaders APR will fancy a win over bottom side Esperance FC at Stade de Kigali, while Police FC, in fourth place host lowly Gicumbi at Kicukiro ground.