Sunday 

Espérance vs Mukura

TURBO KING National Football League side Espérance FC are aiming to finish in the top nine after picking their third win of the season with a 3-1 victory against Etincelles in Rubavu last weekend.

Espérance, last year’s second division champions, have found life in the top flight a lot more difficult to contend with as the Kimisagara-based side have not been out of the bottom two positions all season.

But after stunning eighth-placed Etincelles 3-1 in their last outing, Espérance head Camalade Banamwana believes the win could kick start his team’s faltering debut season in the division.

"The victory against Etincelles was a much needed boost for our confident going into the last nine league matches. We deserved it because we controlled the game from beginning to the end,” said Banamwana whose team remain bottom on 10 points, level with Amagaju and Marines.

He added, "We need to build on this win and climb up the table, it is going to be tough to beat the drop but it is very possible to survive considering the congestion in the bottom half of the table.”

Eight points separate Espérance and their next opponents Mukura Victory Club, who are in ninth position. Mukura, who will be at home for Sunday’s game, have won one, drawn two and lost one of their four second round matches. 

After Mukura, Banamwana’s team will next take on last season’s Peace Cup winners AS Kigali, who led the table for most of the first round but have since dropped to fifth.

Record 13-time champions APR lead the table with 40 points, three better than defending champions Rayon Sports, while Espoir and Police stand in third and fourth positions with 32 and 31 points respectively. 

Both Rayon Sports and AS Kigali have played a game less due to their engagement in Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.