As APR face Atraco in league cracker

National league

Today

APR      v  Atraco

Tomorrow

Jeunesse     v  Rayon Sport
Marines       v   AS Kigali
Electrogaz   v   Kibuye
Police           v   Mukura
Amagaju       v   Kiyovu

The national football league returns to action this weekend with the peak of pitting the two main title challengers APR and Atraco against each other this afternoon at Amahoro stadium.

APR, record nine-time league winners, go into today’s cracker in second place on 39 points, one behind table leaders Atraco with five matches remaining.

After winning the corresponding fixture 3-1, the military side will be seeking to do a double over their rivals.

Speaking to Times Sport ahead of what promised to be a cracking game of football, APR head coach Erik Paske said yesterday that his team is well prepared and ready for maximum points.

"The players have a winning mentality and in addition to that, we don’t have any major injury worries, so we’re looking forward to a great game of football on Saturday (today),” Paske said.

Paske was only assistant coach when his team won the first round game under the guidance of his compatriot Rene Feller, who has since retired from football.

APR are still smarting themselves from that record winning margin of 22-0 against second division side Etoile de l’est in the MTN Peace Cup preliminary round second leg tie in midweek.

Only former Atraco defender Ismail Nshutinamagara is a doubt to start for the military side with a knee injury but he was expected to under a late fitness test last evening.

As for Atraco, who are vying for a second successive league title are too in confident mood going into today’s clash following their  6-0 thrashing of  second division ISAE Busogo in midweek.

Sam Timbe’s lead the standings with 40 points and also boost of the league best attack that has netted 44 goals this season as well as the league top scorer in Jean Lomami, who has found the net 14 times.

According to the assistant coach Emmanuel Ruremesha, Atraco are injury-free and they go into the match looking for some sort of revenge for the 3-1 defeat in the corresponding fixture.

"We are focused on nothing but getting maximum points from APR. We know they are a very good team and can hurt you for any mistake but we’re in the driving seat.

"If we win on Saturday, we’ll go four points clear at the top and with just five matches remaining, the title will be there for us to either take or lose,” Ruremesha said.

Meanwhile, action continues tomorrow as third placed Rayon Sport play away to relegation threatened side La Jeunesse at Nyamirambo stadium while Marines host AS Kigali at Umuganda stadium.

Ends