As rivals look to maintain winning streak

Today
La Jeunesse vs Electrogaz, 12:30
Police vs Atraco, 3:30   
Amagaju vs Marines  
APR vs Kibuye  
Rayon vs AS Kigali   
Sun
Kiyovu vs Mukura

It could be too early to write them off, but two points out of a possible six leaves Rayon Sports four (points) behind title rivals Atraco and APR and a massive job to cut that gap if they are to have a realistic shot at the league title, their first since 2004.

Draws against Mukura (1-1) and Police (0-0) in the first two league fixtures is not the ideal start for Rayon, a club looking to win its first title since 2004 most especially when their rivals have immersed maximum points.

The champions, Atraco, under new coach, Sam Timbe have won two out of two against La Jeunesse (6-1) and Kiyovu (2-0) thus scoring the highest number of goals in the process.

Preseason favorites and record nine-time champions, APR have also collected maximum points against Amagaju (3-0) and struggled to beat AS Kigali 1-0 last weekend.

Going into the new season, Rayon and their loyal fans hoped to make this year theirs after a number of positive changes from the playing to coaching and administrative levels, yet their current position doesn’t paint a favorable picture for the team in the blue corner.

Electrogaz, Marines and AS Kigali have collected more points than Raoul Shungu’s side that has struggled to find the back of the net.
One goal in 180 minutes of football against relatively weaker opposition should to be something of concern for the coaches.

A team that scores more goals tends to win more matches and more trophies unfortunately, Rayon have not managed any of the above in four years.

And going by their current form, you can not bet your job on Rayon beating AS Kigali when the two sides meet this afternoon at Mironko ground.

When they lost their head coach Jean Baptist Kayiranga, who took up the assist coaching job at Rayon before the start of the season, AS-Kigali went in search for a new coach and their hunt ended up with Eric Nshimiyimana.

The ex-APR and Amavubi Stars towering midfielder in his first full coaching job, already has a win in the bag and should also take audacity from his team’s spirited performance against APR last weekend despite ending up on the wrong end of a 1-0 final score.

Shungu must know that anything less than a win today puts his job on line and the club’s title aspiration next to none, especially given the likelihood of Atraco and APR maintaining their impressive start to the season.

Atraco visit Police at Camp Kigali in a match that will be preceded by the game between Electrogaz and La Jeunesse. Rene Feller’s APR with defender Mbuyu Twite, who is suspended for the game, are away to Kibuye in Muhanga

Shungu and his team need to get a win under their belt sooner rather than later because failure to get it today will put them under too much pressure going into next week’s derby against archrivals APR.

Tomorrow in the only game of the day, struggling Kiyovu who have lost their first two fixtures host Mukura at Mironko ground.

Kiyovu lost to Marines 0-1 on the opening weekend of the season and went down 2-0 at the hands of reigning champions, Atraco with both goals coming from ex-Rayon striker Jean Lomami, who took his tally to four goals thus making him the league’s leading scorer.

Mukura, on the other side have drawn their opening two matches against Electrogaz (1-1) and Rayon Sports (1-1).

Bernard Ndiki became the first coaching casualty of the season when he was sacked by Mukura after the opening day draw.

He was replaced by former Kiyovu coach Ali Bizimana, who also worked as Sam Ssimbwa’s assistant at Atraco during the 2005/06 season.

League table
TEAM P W D L Pts
Atraco 2 2 0 0 6  
APR 2 2 0 0 6
Electrogaz 2 1 1 0 4
Marines 2 1 1 0 4
AS Kigali 2 1 0 1 3
Mukura 2 0 2 0 2
Rayon 2 0 2 0 2
Police 2 0 2 0 2
Kibuye 2 0 1 1 1
La Jeunesse 2 0 1 1 1
Kiyovu 2 0 0 2 0
Amagaju 2 0 0 2 0

Ends