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

SundayRayon Sports vs Etincelles 3:30pmMusanze vs GicumbiKirehe FC vs Amagaju

AS Kigali coach Eric Nshimiyimana admits that his players will have their hands full when they face SC Kiyovu in the national football league on Saturday afternoon at Kigali Regional Stadium.

Nshimiyimana’s side are third in the 16-team league table with 26 points, six behind leaders Rayon Sports, who entertain eighth-placed Etincelles FC on Sunday looking to keep their unbeaten run.

"We hope to have a good match against Kiyovu, and possibly win because we need to close the game on the leaders,” Nshimiyimana told Saturday Sport yesterday.

The former Amavubi and APR coach added, "We are aware of the task ahead not just for the game against Kiyovu but throughout the whole campaign. Winning last weekend (against APR) gave us motivation for this particular game, but most importantly for the rest of the season.”

"We need to keep the winning spirit because if you want to be a strong team, you need to win over big teams. We managed to beat APR, I don’t see why we cannot win over Kiyovu,” he stated.

Aloys Kanamugire’s Kiyovu go into the game in ninth place with 15 points and will be seeking to return to winning, especially coming off a 1-2 home defeat against fifth-placed Espoir FC last week.

Kanamugire said, "We have already forgotten about that loss against Espoir, and now we are concentrating on the match against AS Kigali, which is going to be even tougher.”

"In every game you need to display a top-level performance and that’s what we want to do on Saturday if we are to have a chance to win. My players have developed great mental strength so we will go into this game with ambition to take all three points,” added the veteran trainer.

Last season, both sides played goalless in first round before AS Kigali beat their Mumena-based rivals 1-0 in the corresponding fixture.

In other games, fourth-placed Police FC have a tricky away fixture against Espoir in Rusizi where only APR FC have left with maximum points, while Sunrise FC will host struggling Mukura Victory Sport at Nyagatare ground.

Bottom side and still winless Pepiniere FC will play against Bugesera, who are in sixth place, at Ruyenzi ground after FERWAFA declares the stadium fit to host League matches.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw