Sunday

Amagaju vs Police FC 3pm

Friday

Etincelles 2-4 AS KigaliGicumbi 0-1 BugeseraSunrise 3-0 AS Muhanga

AS Kigali walloped relegation threatened Etincelles 4-2 to extend their hunt for the first league table title in the match played on Friday at Umuganda stadium in Rubavu.

The win took Eric Nshimiyimana’s team to 28 points while Etincelles remain rooted in the red zone with six points in 12 matches. Mukura Victory Sports, who were due to face Marines on Saturday, are on second position with 23 points (before yesterday’s game).

AS Kigali secured their eighth league win of the season, thanks to a hat trick from striker Onesme Twizeyimana, who snatched twice in the first half before completing his treble netted in second half while Amini Muzerwa netted the other goal for the league leaders.

The hosts, Etincelles, scored their goals through Albert Mulungulu Wilonja’s second half penalty after Sadjad Niyonkuru, 17, a young brother of Amavubi midfielder Djihad Bizimana, was brought down in the box while Yves Manishimwe netted the other—both goals were came in the second half.

"We were hungry to win after we drew the last game (1-1 against Bugesera FC). We got good result but we have to work hard and we could have scored more goals,” Nshimiyimana, a former Amavubi coach said.

He added, "We played like a winning team today and thankfully the players followed my instructions. We scored four goals but we shall not be excited about this result because we still have a long way to go.”

Twizeyimana is the second AS Kigali player to score a hat trick in the league this season after Rodriguez Murengezi netted one against Sunrise FC in the 4-0 win in October last year.

The league leaders were without their talisman, Ernest Sugira, who suffered a hamstring injury during the last game against Marines FC on February 14.

Meanwhile, Etincelles interim head coach Djabir Mutarambirwa said he was not happy with the way his team played, "I am not happy, my players have not given enough to win the game today. We have to improve and try to win the next games.”

Mutarambirwa, the former Amavubi, Kiyovu, Police, Atraco and APR midfielder was appointed to lead the team until the end of the season, following the sacking of head coach Ibrahim Kizito early last month.

In other matches, Sunrise FC jumped to seventh spot with 14 points after hammering bottom-placed side, AS Muhanga 3-0 at Muhanga stadium.

In Gicumbi, Ali Bizimungu’s Bugesera FC snatched a slim 1-0 win over hosts Gicumbi FC to move to 12th position with 10 points. On Sunday, Police FC will play against Amagaju in Nyamagabe on Sunday before traveling to Juba, Southern Sudan for the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round, second leg match against Atlabara FC.

Police won the first leg 3-1 at Kigali Regional Stadium two weeks ago.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw