June 1

Bugesera  Vs   Kirehe        15:30

Police        Vs   APR            15:30

Rayon        Vs   Marines      15:30

Mukura     Vs   Gicumbi     15:30

Espoir        Vs   Muhanga   15:30

Sunrise      Vs   Etincelles   15:30

Amagaju   Vs   AS Kigali    15:30

Musanze   Vs   Kiyovu        15:30

Kirehe FC manager Hamis ‘Kishi’ Sogonya has admitted that his team needs a miracle to survive relegation on the final day of the 2018/2019 Azam Rwanda Premier League season.

Battered Kirehe are second from bottom of the 16-team table with just 27 points, having only managed six wins after 29 matches.

With one game left to the close of the league season, relegation looks certain and Sogonya is aware. But, the former Etincelles tactician has insisted that his team is not relegated yet and he is adamant about the possibility of defying the odds and feature in the topflight league next season.

"It is a depressing battle that we are fighting; but we need to keep our heads up high till the very end. As difficult as it looks, surviving the relegation is still possible. We need to beat Bugesera and see how it goes with Gicumbi,” Sogonya explained.

For the Kirehe District-sponsored side to escape the dropping, they must win away to Bugesera and hope that third-placed Mukura beat Camarade Banamwana’s Gicumbi. All the match-day 30 –and final round – fixtures will be played Saturday. Kick-off 3:30pm.

Gicumbi only need a draw, regardless of how Kirehe fares, to ensure their spot in the top tier league next season. Bottom side Amagaju were the first to be relegated earlier this month.

Over the weekend, battling Gicumbi came from behind to beat AS Muhanga 3-2, while champions Rayon Sports defeated Kirehe 4-0 to dampen their survival aspirations.

Going into the ultimate match round, 14th-placed Gicumbi are three points ahead Kirehe, but the latter have a lesser goal deficit (-20) compared to Gicumbi’s 23.

In the meantime, Rayon will be crowned as new champions at Kigali Stadium on Saturday after their tie against Marines, just three days before they take on AS Kigali in the Peace Cup opener.

Should the Blues see AS Kigali off and cruise all the way to the title; which they last clinched in 2016, they will become the first team to win the local – League and Peace Cup – double in five years.

APR were the last side to do so in 2014.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com