AS Kigali face-off resurgent Kiyovu

SundayMusanze vs Rayon Sports Kiyovu vs AS Kigali Amagaju vs EtincellesEspoir FC vs Mukura VSMarines vs Police FC AS Muhanga vs APR FCEsperance vs Gicumbi AS Kigali are in good shape and ready for today’s national football league clash against rivals SC Kiyovu at Stade de Kigali, Nyamirambo, according to head coach Andre Gasambungo ‘Casa’. Gilbert Yaoundé Kanyankore’s resurgent Kiyovu, in fourth place, will square off against third-placed AS Kigali with both sides aware of the consequences of either a win or loss. The two teams are separated by just one point and a win for either of them means a lot. Gasambungo told Sunday Sport, “We want to have a successful season and to be able to achieve it, we must win more matches than we lose, starting with Sunday’s game against SC Kiyovu.” A win for either team will move them above one of the top two sides, Rayon Sports and APR provides one fail to get maximum points from their fixtures against Musanze and AS Muhanga respectively. The AS Kigali coach added, “This is a tricky season compared to the last one, which is why we are determined to win every match. We want to have a good result on Sunday before going into the New Year.” Gasambungo could be without striker Bodo Ndikumana, skipper Jimmy Mbaraga, who have both missed training in the two days with bouts of malaria, while central defenders James Tubane and Patrick Umwungeli and Mohamed Mushimiyimana, are injured. Both teams will go into today’s clash on the back 2-2 draws from their Boxing Day matches against Etincelles and Musanze respectively. Kiyovu’s Kanyankore said, “We have already forgotten about that drew against Etincelles, and now we are concentrating on the match against AS Kigali, which is going to be even tougher.” And the former Rayon Sports coach insists, “In every game you need to display a top-level performance and that’s what we want to do on Sunday if we are to have a chance to win.” “My players have developed great mental strength so we will go into this game with ambition taking all three points. It will be a very tricky game, which we cannot assume that you will win but we have got to be confident because AS Kigali are doing well and are one of the teams with a chance to win the league.” Elsewhere, defending champion and league leaders Rayon Sports will be without central defenders Idi Nshimiyimana and Hussein Sibomana for the visit to fifth-placed Musanze FC. Thirteen-times league winners APR have a relatively easier fixture against struggling AS Muhanga in Muhanga, while Sam Ssimbwa’s Police FC have a difficult trip to Rubavu to take on Marines at Umuganda stadium. Bottom side Amagaju will host Etincelles; sixth-placed Espoir FC will be aiming to continue their form against struggling Mukura in Rusizi, while second from bottom Esperance host Gicumbi at Mumena stadium.