Battle of titans as Rayon face APR

TKNFL FIXTURES Today Etincelles vs Gicumbi 3:30pm Sunday Rayon Sports vs APR 3:30pm Amagaju vs Espoir Musanze vs Marines AS Muhanga vs SC Kiyovu Police vs Mukura DEFENDING Champions Rayon Sports and archrivals APR will face off in what pundits say is the biggest match of the Turbo King National Football League this afternoon at Stade de Kigali. Kick off time is 3:30pm. After this encounter, only five games will be left to wrap up the league. Expectations are high among the coaches, players and fans as the biggest match of the season is finally played following an earlier decision by Ferwafa to call it off, only to rescind that decision hours later. Also the encounter will leave many fans locked out as only 7000 fans will be allowed to watch the match considering the small capacity of the stadium. It will be an action packed match in a fully packed stadium. Excited fans with almost every one blowing a vuvuzela will add flavour to the excitement. This much-awaited game is not just about three points, if anything it is about bragging rights. It is a clash of egos. Hosts, Rayon Sports go into today’s match with a big task at hand. The Nyanza-based club must not settle for less than a win in today’s clash or else they will lose retaining the league title to rivals APR, who are ahead with three points. APR, 13-time league champions, lead the standings with 49 points, three better than Rayon, the military side also won the corresponding fixture 1-0 with both teams under different coaches. APR were under German coach Andreas Spier, while Frenchman Didier Gomes da Rosa was in charge of the champions, however, both have since left. Now everyone will be eager to see who, of the two new men in charge, between APR’s Vincent Mashami and Rayon Sports’ Belgian Luc Eymael will outwit the other in a match that has already caused controversy in its lead up. “This is a big and an important match for Rayon Sports and the fans, and we have prepared for it in the best way possible,” Eymael told Saturday Sport yesterday. “I respect APR just like any other team and it’s going to be a tough match with a lot of intensity. It’s important because we need a win to remain in contention for the league title and if we lose, it’s going to be hard to catch them,” admitted the former AFC Leopards coach. Rayon Sports will miss the services of injured players namely; Aphrodis Hategikimana, Faustin Usengimana, Papy Kamanzi and young defender Alype Majyambere. Since 1995, Rayon Sports and APR have created a bitter rivalry with the later going on to win a record 13 league titles compared to seven for the former during that period. APR interim coach Mashami said that his team will go into today’s game to complete a double over their bitter rivals, who humiliated them 4-0 last season. “We are 100% ready for the contest. We are facing a tough opponent whom we respect but we don’t fear them. This is an important game for both teams,” Mashami noted before adding, “We are in a good position at the top of the table and we are motivated to win and stay there going into the last five matches of the season.” In the first round, APR defeated Rayon Sports 1-0 at Amahoro stadium courtesy of Charles Tibingana and have since gone on to register 14 more wins, drawn four and lost only once out of the 20 matches played this season. Rayon Sports have won 15 matches, drawn once and lost four matches respectively but they have scored more goals thanks to their lead strikers Cedric Amissi, Meddie Kagere and Fuadi Ndayisenga who have scored a combined total of 25 goals out of the 42 goals scored by the club this season. In March, 2013, after years of dominance, the Nyanza-based Rayon handed the army side one of their heaviest defeats in recent years as they beat them 4-0. Rayon threats to withdraw from competitions In the lead up to this match, Rayon Sports threatened to withdraw from all football competitions if Ferwafa did not rescind its decision of moving the game to April as earlier reached in their Tuesday meeting. On Tuesday, Ferwafa took the decision arguing that the stadium may not accommodate the expected number of fans. Rayon and APR are the most popular teams in the country. In less than 12 hours, Rayon Sports issued a statement threatening to withdraw from all domestic football competitions if Ferwafa does not reverse its decision. Ferwafa wanted the game to be played after the Genocide memorial week (which runs from April 7-13) because that’s the earliest Amahoro National Stadium would be available for games. The threat prompted Ferwafa to overturn their decision and the game was reinstated for this Sunday as originally scheduled. Rayon vs APR: Probable starting teams Rayon Sports: Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, Karim Nizigiyimana, Hussein Sibomana, Idi Nshimiyimana, Abouba Sibomana, Robert Ndatimana, Leon Uwambazimana, Cedric Amissi, Fuadi Ndayisenga, Djamal Mwiseneza, Meddie Kagere. APR FC: Olivier Kwizera, Michel Rusheshangoga, Emery Bayisenge, Ismael Nshutiyamagara, Eric Rutanga, Andrew Buteera, Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Charles Tibingana, Patrick Sibomana, Isaan Muganza, Michel Ndahinduka. Top Scorers Wai yeka Musanze 12 Julius Bakaburindi SC Kiyovu 10 Cedric Amissi Rayon Sports 10 Meddie Kagere Rayon Sports 8 Jacques Tuyisenge Police 7 League Table Team PD W D L Pts APR 20 15 4 1 49 RAYON Sports 20 15 1 4 46 AS KIGALI 19 11 5 3 38 POLICE 20 10 5 5 35 ESPOIR 20 9 8 3 35 KIYOVU SC 20 9 7 4 34 MUSANZE 20 9 6 5 33 ETINCELLES 20 4 9 7 21 MUKURA 20 5 4 11 19 MARINES 20 4 5 11 17 MUHANGA 20 4 5 11 17 GICUMBI 19 4 4 11 16 ESPERANCE 20 3 3 14 12 AMAGAJU 20 2 4 14 10