Espoir dent Kiyovu’s title hopes

SC KIYOVU have had their Primus National Football League title hopes dealt a significant blow following a shocking 1-0 loss away to Espoir on Sunday in Rusizi.

Sunday, January 27, 2013
SC Kiyovu lost their second sucessive game since coach Baptist Kayiranga resigned about three weeks ago. The New Times / T. Kisambira

Primus LeagueSundayAS Kigali     0-1     Mukura Amagaju     1-1     Rayon Espoir     1-0      SC Kiyovu Musanze     0-0     Isonga AS Muhanga     0-0     EtincellesSaturdayLa Jeunesse     2-2     PoliceMarines     0-0     APRSC KIYOVU have had their Primus National Football League title hopes dealt a significant blow following a shocking 1-0 loss away to Espoir on Sunday in Rusizi.Under interim coach Francois Kalisa, Kiyovu failed to take full advantage to close the gap on leaders Police, who were held to a 2-all draw by La Jeunesse the previous day.Espoir’s win took them to ninth position with 17 points after 14 rounds of matches played so far.Six-time league champion Rayon Sport moved into second position after coming from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 with Amagaju in Nyamagabe. The equalising goal came in the dying minutes of the game when midfielder Fuadi Ndayisenga scored a penalty. DR Congo striker Claude Mumbele had put the hosts ahead in the 72nd minute.Rayon have 26 points, level with Kiyovu but the Blues enjoy a superior goal difference over their old rivals, who had coach Jean Baptist Kayiranga resign citing irreconcilable differences with his bosses.AS Kigali lost their second game in a row, following a 0-1 defeat to Mukura at Stade de Kigali. Papy Hassan scored the lone goal of the game through a well taken penalty in 60th minute after he was brought down in the goal area.Mukura remains in eighth position with 19 points while AS Kigali is placed fifth with 24 points.Elsewhere, relegation battling Isonga FC forced Musanze to a goalless draw, while the match between AS Muhanga and Etincelles in Muhanga also ended in a goalless draw.The start of the second leg didn’t change anything as far as league standing is concerned with Police being at the top with 29 points, 3 ahead of second-placed Rayon.Etincelles and Isonga remain in the relegation zone with 10 and 9 points each respectively.The league resumes tomorrow with Police hosting Marines at Kicukiro turf while Musanze will face-off Etincelles at Umuganda stadium.