RAYON SPORTS coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira knows a thing or two about his team’s next opponents and in an ideal world; he would love to face them with his strongest team.

Ntagwabira has promised that his team will go out to win against their biggest rivals and 12-time league winners, APR when the two old enemies take to the field at Amahoro stadium on Sunday.

The former APR player and coach, seeking to become the first Rwandan coach to win the national league with three different clubs, saw his team come out on the wrong end of a 2-1 result against La Jeunesse on Sunday.

But believes the Blues will recover from that shock defeat in time for the biggest game of the season. He said, "We lost the game (against La Jeunesse) because of our poor defending. We paid for the defensive errors.”

"(But), I believe will be better in our next game against APR. Hopefully, I will be able to field my strongest team because I expect some injured players return to training this week,” said Ntagwabira, who has won the league (as coach) with both APR and Atraco.

The ex-Rwandan international, however, noted the defeat against La Jeunesse should not be depicted as an earlier sign of things to come when he faces his former employers.

"The match against APR is the biggest test not only for Rayon but all the teams, but we have the confidence and determination to play to win. Our fans should not lose hope,” he stated.

Ntagwabira is likely to welcome back key defender Saidi Ndayisaba and striker Hussein Mbanze for Sunday’s clash.

The champions are unbeaten after four matches of the current season and sit at the top of the table standings with 12 points, while Rayon, after the weekend defeat, dropped to third position with nine points. Etincelles is third on 10 points.

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