Saturday

Rayon Sports vs Police FC 3:30pmMarines vs Sunrise FCKirehe FC vs PepiniereEspoir vs Bugesera FCGicumbi FC vs SC Kiyovu

Sunday

Musanze FC vs Etincelles

National football league title hopefuls Rayon Sports and Police FC face off today afternoon at Amahoro National Stadium with either side looking for a win to boost their chances.

Hosts Rayon Sports go into the game top of the table with 36 points from 15 matches, five points ahead of fourth-placed Police after 16 rounds of matches.

Djuma Masudi’s team will be boosted by their new signings including Amavubi central defender Abdul Rwatubyaye; former Gor Mahia left back Abouba Sibomana and Tidiane Kone, who joined the squad for the second half of the season.

This match was set to be played early this month, but it was moved to today due to Rayon Sports’ engagements in Africa Confederation Cup.

Last week, Rayon Sports advanced to the first round of CAF Confederation Cup after knocking out South Sudan’s El Wau Salaam on a 6-0 aggregate score. They will face Onze Creatures of Mali in the next round.

"This is an important game to us. We have prepared well for the past week and I am still optimistic we can play good football and also win, it’s important that we don’t lose this game,” Masudi, whose side has lost just once in the league, told Saturday Sport.

And indeed his opposite number of Police FC, Innocent Seninga, acknowledged the fact that they have to be careful against the league leaders, especially since his team is still recovering from losing 1-0 against fifth-placed Bugesera FC, who moved to within a point of the law enforcers’ side.

He said, "Since last week, we have been working hard on the psychological aspect of the players and I believe they are ready for the Rayon Sports game.”

"We can’t afford to lose this game, winning the league title is something we have discussed at length, so if we’re to achieve our dream, we need to win or avoid defeat, which keeps us in the race,” added the former Isonga, Kiyovu and Etincelles coach.

Both sides have met 25 times before today, and Rayon Sports enjoys the upper hand with 13 wins against Police FC’s five wins while the other 10 matches have ended in draws.

Police have not won against Rayon Sports in the last four games, only managing a 1-1 draw, while Rayon Sports have won 3-1, 3-0 and 2-1. The last time Police beat Rayon was in the league second round 2014/15 season, winning 2-1.

The ‘Blue’ side has the best defense so far which has only conceded 7 goals as well as the best strike force with 24 goals scored whereas the ‘Cops’ have conceded 13 goals.

Any slip on top, APR, who were due to face Mukura Victory Sports on Friday and looming behind leaders on 35 points, will be given a chance to take over.

Rayon Sports’ chances of winning the first league title since 2013 lie on how they will do against Police today as well as from the next six fixtures against Espoir, AS Kigali, Etincelles, Marines, Sunrise FC and Bugesera FC.

Police FC, who are fourth still have a chance to win the title but that will depend on how they do in the next six fixtures, starting with Rayon Sports, then Etincelles, AS Kigali, Musanze, Espoir and Amagaju FC.

Rayon Sports beat Police 2-1 in the corresponding fixture. Eric Ngendahimana put Police ahead in the 15th minute before Savio Dominique Nshuti equalized in the 24th minute and Mousa Camara netted the winning goal in stoppage time.

Police FC will rely on the league top scorer Dany Usengimana, who has scored 12 goals from 16 matches.