The Primus National League season is in its penultimate stage with just one game to go and the week 29 match day games produced some shocking but decisive results that shook the table in favor of some teams and against some other’s favor on the other hand.
In all, 22 goals were scored over the weekend with Rutsiro and Musanze being the only teams who recorded away wins.
Like last season, Kiyovu Sports’s title hopes suffered a major blow as Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunrise FC saw them surrender the top spot to APR who beat Rwamagana City at Bugesera Stadium.
Times Sport takes a look at five things we learnt from week 29.
Kiyovu bottling it up again
On June 16, 2022, Kiyovu were held to a goalless draw by Espoir in Rusizi in a decisive game which dented their title ambitions. They dropped points which allowed APR to go on to win the league.
And the Green Baggies have faced the same debacle again this season. They needed just a draw against Sunrise FC in Nyagatare to maintain their top position before their final league game against Rutsiro FC.
Erissa Ssekisambu missed a crucial penalty as Kiyovu lost 1-0 to Sunrise courtesy a 70th minute Yafesi Mubiru goal. APR rose to the occasion and overtook them to the top of the table on goal difference though the pair are tied with 60 points.
Some of the club fans in Nyamirambo had already painted their cars in green with ‘champions’ decorations but Yafessi Mubiru’s winner in the 70th minute broke their hearts and the cars are presently nowhere to be seen.
Probably they have forgotten about the title...again.
Onana's incredible goal scoring form continues
Despite missing almost a month with injury, Onana has crawled back with some wonderful performances in the second round of the league.
The Cameroonian attacker is now on fire and he is scoring for fun. He now leads the league’s goal scoring charts after his brace against Marines on Sunday at Muhanga Stadium extended his tally to 15 goals.
Onana has arguably been the best player in the league this 2022/23 season and Amavubi head coach Carlos Ferrer will be glad to welcome him in his group should the Cameroonian attacker agree to switch his allegiances to Rwanda.
Rutsiro's survival mission continues
Rutsiro shocked AS Kigali with a 2-0 from an away encounter from which pundits and connoisseurs of the game gave them no chance during their match analysis. They completely mesmerized the citizens in their own backyard.
Now, they must get at least a draw from their last game with Kiyovu in Kigali and pray that either Bugesera or Rwamagana drop points so that they can be safe.
Nshuti shows class against Rwamagana
The last couple of weeks have seen APR's Innocent Nshuti coming to the party with some great performances.
After his heroics against Kiyovu in the Peace Cup last week where he netted a crucial header that canceled the Green Baggies’ lead, the striker continued his goal scoring form with a hat-trick during APR’s emphatic 4-1 win over Rwamagana City.
He became the first APR player to score thrice in a game this season.
APR have the last say on the league title
It has been a rollercoaster season for APR with a league campaign which has not been smooth from the very beginning. The impasse coupled with suspensions of Adil Mohammed, Djabel Imanishimwe and other controversies nearly brought the team down.
APR were not in contention for the title but they eventually did their homework well and they are on the verge of winning it. Kigali, Rayon and Kiyovu all had stints on top of the table but could not maintain the lead.
The army side now has their eyes set to rob the title away from Kiyovu for the second consecutive season after the latter threw it in Nyagatare following 1-0 defeat to Sunrise who were on the brink of relegation.