Skipper Thierry Manzi insists Rayon Sports have not given up on their push for the Azam Rwanda Premier League title this season.

The star centre back prefers to focus on the prospects of their hunt despite being six points behind table leaders and defending champions APR with four match rounds to go

Manzi says that ‘everything is still possible’ and the real test will come on April 20 when they take on APR at Kigali Stadium.

Speaking to Saturday Sport on Friday, he played down suggestions that he can not lead Rayon to league glory this season, insisting that his concern is getting the job done one game at a time.

Rayon boosted APR’s chances for a record-extending 18th league title last week after playing out a 1-all draw with AS Kigali, a day after the military side had beaten Sunrise 2-0.

With 48 points from 22 games, Roberto Oliveira’s Rayon trail APR by six points.

"For us, it’s about concentration until the end of the season. We want to take it game by game, there are four matches still to play,” said the Rwanda international.

"Dropping points to AS Kigali was a terrible mistake,” a regretful Manzi said, adding that they should regroup and aim for victory against APR and three fixtures after.

The topflight league and other sports activities in Rwanda start a short break Saturday as the country – on April 7 – starts the 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Rayon Sports last won the league title in 2017 under Burundian tactician Djuma Masudi, who has since departed the club.

TABLE

No   Team                  PG     W      D      L      PTS

1       APR                   22      17      03     02    54

2       Rayon                22      15      03     04    48

3       Mukura              22      13      06     03    45

4       Kiyovu               22      11      05     06    38

5       Police                 22      10      04     08    34

6       Espoir                22      09      04     09    31

7       AS Kigali           22      07      08     07    29

8       Muhanga          22      07      08     07    29

9       Sunrise              22      07      06     09    27

10     Marines             22      06      08     08    26

11     Etincelles          22      07      03     12    24

12     Bugesera          22      05      09     08    24

13     Musanze           22      06      05     11    23

14     Gicumbi            22      05      03     12    20                   

15     Kirehe            22        03       08      11    17

16   Amagaju        22       04        03      15      15

LEADING SCORERS

#      Player                              Club             Goals

1.     Jules Ulimwengu         Rayon          12

2.     Djuma Nizeyimana       Kiyovu         12

3.     Yannick Bizimana        Muhanga    10

4.     Muhadjiri Hakizimana    APR             10

5.     Michael Sarpong          Rayon          10

6.     Tresor Ndikumana       Amagaju     08

7.     Samson Babuwa         Sunrise        07

8.     Lague Byiringiro          APR             07

9.     Isaie Songa                    Police           06

10.    Steve Nzigamasabo    Bugesera       06

editor@newtimesrwanda.com