SaturdayMukura VS vs SC Kiyovu 3:30Kirehe FC vs EtincellesMusanze vs APR FCEspoir vs AmagajuMarines vs Rayon SportsAS Kigali vs Bugesera

SundayPepiniere vs Sunrise FC 3:30pm

Given his experience in the top flight football league, Jean-Baptiste Kayiranga has seen plenty of losing teams in his coaching career but they tended to be the opposition.

The man, who played for Rayon Sports and Amavubi, is now a head coach of newly promoted Pepiniere FC, who are struggling to cope with life in the first division — they are without a point after three rounds of matches.

Only Amagaju FC have done worse in terms of goals conceded and this situation is causing Kayiranga, one of the most experienced coaches in the local league, sleepless nights.

Last weekend, Pepiniere lost 1-0 to fellow newcomers Kirehe FC at Ruyenzi ground. The defeat was a sort of misfortune that occurs mostly to teams struggling down the table. The result meant that Pepineire are one of the two teams that have lost all their three matches this season.

Last season, Pepineire won the second division league title after beating Kirehe FC on penalties. The two clubs effectively replaced AS Muhanga and Rwamagana City in the top flight league, with the other two heading in the opposite direction.

But now, just a few weeks into the new season in the first division, Kayiranga, who signed a two-year contract until end of the 2017/18 season – when he took over in August –, has admitted that the lack of experience is a major challenge for his team. 

"Yes, it is still too early but losing three games in a row puts you in trouble,” he admitted. "The season is going to be long and tricky, but still we have to deal with it.”

Kayiranga added, "The fans have the right to be angry and disappointed when the team is not winning games, but my message to them is to be patient, because we are still a young team and are new in the league, we have to stick together and keep working hard.” 

After this weekend, Kayiranga has a tough run in the next four matches; they travel to Etincelles, then face APR FC, SC Kiyovu and Police FC.

Elsewhere today, third-placed APR FC take on Musanze FC, who are in fifth place, at Nyakinama ground, while newly promoted Kirehe FC, in sixth position with six points, will host Etincelles, with Espoir facing bottom side Amagaju FC in Rusizi.

Second-placed Rayon Sports, who beat AS Kigali 2-0 last Sunday, will play away to Marines FC at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw