Kiyovu Sports moved on top of the Rwanda Premier League table with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Rayon Sports at the Kigali Stadium on match day 9 on November 11.

Times Sport brings to you four things we learnt from this epic clash.

-Kiyovu is still strong despite losing key elements from last season

The "Green Baggies" were a delight to watch as they conquered their rivals. This is a Kiyovu Sport side which lost key players such as Ugandan skipper Arnold Emmanuel Okwi as well Gilbert Ngendahimana.

Their former head coach Francis Harigingo also moved to Rayon Sports. Despite all this, Kiyovu were still the better side as they outplayed their opponents and beat them.

- Center backs of both teams were superb

Aimable Nsabimana and Thierry Ndayishimiye in the heart of the Kiyovu Sports defense were fantastic on the day. They put the brakes on the likes of Andre Onana, Paul Were and Musa Essenu.

Rayon could not penetrate through the middle as the duo defended gallantly. They used the wide areas and that was where they were able to cut in and get the penalty.

The Rayon central defense of Samuel Ndizeye and Isaac Mitima were also top notch. Skipper Ndizeye was a pillar at the back as he denied Kiyovu their third goal in the 73rd minute with a world class goal line clearance.

-Coach Francis Harigingo got his selection wrong

Rayon played without a proper holding midfielder from the start of the game. This allowed Kiyovu Sports to get an easy route to attack the final third of the field though the Rayon central defenders remained resolute.

Kiyovu's first goal came from the edge of the box as Nshimirimana Ismail was allowed all the time in the world to calmly control the ball with his chest before unleashing a powerful effort into the net from 20 yards.

If Rayon had a proper defensive midfielder in the game, he could have thwarted that effort because that was his area.

Rayon became stable later in the second half when Blaise Nishimwe was introduced. The workaholic holding midfielder sat infront of the back four and did all the dirty work.

- Kiyovu and Rayon have credentials to win the title

It is early days but the game between Kiyovu and Rayon Sports is the best game in the 2022/23 Rwanda Premier League season, so far.

The euphoria, the performance and everything around the game was extraordinary. And both teams duly lived up to expectation.

Kiyovu and Rayon have shown that they have what it takes to wi n the title though the league is in its early stages.