Marines vs APR FC 3:30pm

SaturdayAS Kigali vs SC Kiyovu 3:30pmSunrise FC vs Mukura Pepiniere vs BugeseraEspoir vs Police FC

SundayRayon Sports vs Etincelles 3.30pmMusanze vs Gicumbi Kirehe FC vs Amagaju

After AS Kigali halted their unbeaten record in a 0-1 defeat, APR FC right back Michel Rusheshangoga is confident that the league defending champions will bounce back against Marines when both sides meet this afternoon at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.

"It is not good to lose a game but we have the chance to bounce back, starting with the match against Marines before we face Rayon Sports the following weekend,” Rusheshangoga told Times Sport, yesterday.

He added that, "Against AS Kigali, we wanted to win obviously, but in the end we lost concentration and allowed them to dominate and win the game.”

"We have to create scoring chances against Marines and take advantage of them. Having lost our last game, we will need to be on guard to avoid another slip up, which would effectively hand the title initiative to our rivals,” stated the Rwanda international.

Rusheshangoga further noted that his side can do better against Marines and will do everything possible to get the three points needed to stay in the title race.

"We’re five points behind Rayon but if we don’t win and they do, it means the gap will become even bigger and harder to close.”

Marines FC are also fresh from losing against rivals Etincelles 2-1 in the first Rubavu derby of the season, and will also be hoping to bounce back against the defending champions, according to head coach Abdul Karim ‘Coka’ Nduhirabandi.

"We hope to have a good performance against the champions and possibly get a good result which will help us to move into a better position on the table. This is a big game for us but we have to be ready and I believe we have a very good team that can do a good job against the big teams,” he noted.

"We are aware of the task ahead of us here and we are well prepared and we shall do everything possible to earn three points. We have advantage of playing at home,” Nduhirabandi explained.

APR will be looking to win the game in order to stay second and if they lose or draw and third-placed AS Kigali beat SC Kiyovu on Saturday at Kigali Regional Stadium, they will swap positions.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw