Rayon Sports, AS Kigali turn focus to continental fixtures

National league Saturday results AS Kigali 0-0 APR AS Muhanga 2-4 Rayon Sports Etincelles 3-0 Mukura Gicumbi 0-2 SC Kiyovu Esperance 0-1 Amagaju Musanze 0-0 Police Espoir 1-0 Marines RWANDAN league champions Rayon Sports and Peace Cup holders AS Kigali have shifted focus to this weekend’s Africa club competitions. Rayon Sports face Congolese side AC Leopards in the Preliminary qualifying round of the Caf Champions League on Sunday away in Brazzaville while AS Kigali will be up against Burundian side Academie Tchité in the Caf Confederation Cup on the same day in Kigali. The Blues have been boosted with the appointment of the new head coach Belgian Luc Eymael, who guided them to a 4-2 win over AS Muhanga in his first game in charge. The win put the Blues ahead of archrivals APR on goal difference despite being tied on 37 points each. Cedric Amiss, Kambale Salite Gentil aka Pappy Kamanzi, Arafat Serugendo and skipper Faudi Ndayisenga scored vital goals for defending champions while Naser Irakoze scored a brace for AS Muhanga. The last time the Blues played in the Caf Champions League was way back in 2005 when they were knocked out in the preliminary round. Last year, Rwanda’s representatives in the Caf Champions League, APR FC, were knocked out on the away goals rule in the first round by Vital’O of Burundi, who won 2-1 in Kigali and lost 0-1 in Bujumbura. At Stade de Kigali, Coach Andrew Casa Mbungo was satisfied with his team’s performance after the goalless draw with record 13-times Rwandan champions, APR on Saturday. Should the City of Kigali-sponsored side progress past the qualifying round, they will face Alhly Shandy of Sudan in the first round. AS Kigali will be competing for the second time in the continental competition after making their debut in 2001 when they were still called Les Citadins. The second round matches will be played between February 28 and March 9, while the final qualifying-round matches are slated for March 21-30.