Rayon wallop Kiyovu but APR FC retain top seat

They may be without a permanent head coach – at least for now –but Rayon Sports cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win over old rivals SC Kiyovu yesterday at Amahoro stadium to keep within touching distance of leaders APR, who recorded a routine 3-0 win against bottom side Esperance.Versatile defender Emery Bayisenge scored a brace and striker Isaiah Songa added the third as APR retained the top spot on the league log with 36 points, two ahead of second-placed Rayon Sports.Third-placed AS Kigali drew 1-1 against fifth-placed Espoir at Stade de Kigali on Saturday.On Sunday, Police FC, in fourth place, beat Gicumbi 2-1 at Kicukiro ground to move to 30 points, level with AS Kigali, and four adrift of Rayon.Rayon Sports, expected to unveil Belgian Luc Eymael as their new head coach anytime from now, started strongly against Kiyovu and almost took the lead through Leon Uwambazimana, and, then later, Meddie Kagere, who were both foiled by goalkeeper Andre Mazimpaka.Despite coming under pressure early on, Gilbert Kanyankore’s boys gradually adapted to the blues’ tempo and started to enjoy some decent possession. In fact, Ali Musa Sova and Christian Mbirizi tested Rayon custodian Jean Luc Ndayinshimiye.But Rayon’s sustained pressure paid off in the tenth minute when striker Salite Kambale Gentil alias Papy Kamanzi put the champions ahead in his first game in three months.Rayon continued to dominate the midfield but Cedric Amiss and Kegere wasted some good opportunities.Ugandan striker Julius Bakkabulindi equalised for Kiyovu in the 35th minute after exploiting poor communication between newly signed defender Jimmy Mukubya and goalie Ndayishimiye.But with two minute to half-time, Kambale restored Rayon’s lead with his second after good interplay with Kagere, Djamal Mwiseneza and skipper Faudi Ndayisenga.Interim coach Mbusa Kombi Billy made changes early in the second half, introducing Robert Ndatimana for brace hero Kambale.After entertaining display by either side, Rayon took the game beyond Kiyovu’s reach when skipper Ndayisenga netted the third goal in the 84th minute. For Kiyovu camp, that was the killer strike.Yet there were still a few minutes of more drama as Kiyovu pressed hard looking for a second goal with skipper Djuma Radju Niyonkuru and Musa Sova both coming so close but denied by Ndayishimiye.The final whistle was greeted by wild jubilations from the blue half of the stadium – perhaps an early signal about the club’s passionate fans for Luc Eymael.