Etincelles blames board for poor show

ETINCELLES head coach Abdul Bizimana a.k.a Beken has lashed out at the club’s management for the teams continued poor results in Turbo King Football National League.

Sunday, March 30, 2014
Djamal Mwiseneza, seen here taking on Mukurau2019s defender, will be among Luc Eymaelu2019s players against Etincelles today. (Timothy Kisambira)

TKFL, TodayRayon vs Etincelles (Kigali Regional)APR vs Musanze (Kicukiro)Marines vs AS Muhanga (Umuganda)

ETINCELLES head coach Abdul Bizimana a.k.a Beken has lashed out at the club’s management for the teams continued poor results in Turbo King Football National League.

The remarks come at a time when Etincelles is playing away to champions Rayon Sports on the match day 22 of the league scheduled for this afternoon at Kigali regional stadium.

Etincelles are ranked eighth on the standings with 22 points after registering four wins, losing seven matches and drawing ten times.

Coach Bizimana told Sunday Sport yesterday, "We (coaches) have to take responsibility when a team loses but what about the club owners and administrators who have not paid salaries and bonuses on time for players and expect them to win?

"It is too hard to get any positive result if conditions don’t favour you even in your home. I know the quality of my players and they have proved to be talented and strong and this was showed at the start of the season,”

"We proved that no team can easily beat us at the start of the season but at the moment every club is taking points easily against us because players are no longer committed,”

"It is very disappointing but we have no option but to continue giving our best, putting the players in the best mood of their minds and body,” added Bizimana.

As the situation stands, Rayon Sports will walk over Etincelles considering their current form that saw the Nyanza-based club beat arch-rivals APR 2-1 last week.

The blues jointly lead the standings with 49 points, with a slim one goal difference over rivals APR whom they beat last weekend.

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 international 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.

Elsewhere, wounded arch rivals APR face Musanze in another tricky encounter at Kicukiro turf. Coach Vincent Mashami who has lost three key players Papy Sibomana and Isaie Isonga to injuries and lead striker Michel Ndahinduka to suspension must ensure a positive comeback and continue to press the blues in surge for the league title.

A win for Musanze will hamper APR’s chances of keeping pressure on Rayon Sports at the top of the table should the blues manage to overcome Etincelles.

Musanze’s Wai Yeka will be a thorn in APR’s shaky defense which gave away goals easily in their last match against Rayon Sports.

In Rubavu, youthful Marines take on S Muhanga at Umuganda Stadium. Both clubs sit 11th with 17 points each and a win for either side will bolster their chances of escaping any dangers of being relegated.

In other matches, APR will host Musanze at Kicukiro turf while Marines meet Muhanga at Umuganda Stadium.

If Rayon Sport wins today against Etincelles and APR lost or draw, they will continue to lead the league table while the loss to Rayon Sport and win for APR could see the Army side go to the top of league.