Mukura Victory Sports will be looking for a ‘crucial victory’ against Kirehe when the two sides meet on Friday afternoon in Azam Rwanda Premier League at Huye Stadium.

It will be Mukura’s first league match since ousting Sudanese side Al Hilal SC Obayed in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Ahead of the Kirehe clash, the black and yellow outfit are in third position with 19 points, six points behind leaders APR and one adrift of second-placed Police. However, Mukura have played two games less than APR and three less than Police, respectively.

On the other hand, struggling Kirehe are in 14th position with 10 points, having only won recorded two victories and four draws in their first eleven games this season.

Kirehe are hovering just above the relegation zone and they will have their hands full against Mukura still fresh from progressing to playoffs round of Africa’s second biggest club competition.

"The players are in upbeat mood after reaching the playoffs round in Confederation Cup, we will go into the game [against Kirehe] with a must-win mindset. We need to forget about continental football and focus on getting the three points to close the gap on the leaders,” said Haringingo.

Haringingo will be gunning for maximum points, but his counterpart Francois Kalisa could have different ideas as Kirehe look to get out of the bottom four for the first time this season.

"We have only managed to get two wins so far but our aim is to keep trying and put more points on board to save our season,” noted Kalisa.

Mukura have gone seven league games unbeaten in this term, the club’s best start to a new season in over two decades.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw