APR eager to maintain pace

Today APR vs Sunrise 3:30pm AS Kigali vs SC Kiyovu Marines vs Gicumbi Sunday Police vs Espoir 3:30pm Mukura vs Rayon Sports Amagaju vs Etincelles Isonga vs Musanze TABLE LEADERS APR host Sunrise FC this afternoon in the last game of first round in the National Football League at Kicukiro stadium, kick off at 3:30pm. The army side has enjoyed fine form winning their last three games since the stunning loss to Gicumbi in November, their only loss of the season. Head coach Ljubomir Petrovic has urged his players to be consistent and win this encounter to give them a comfortable advantage going into the second round. “We have worked hard in training and we have been able to register some good results in a convincing way so we want to maintain that,” mentioned Petrovic whose main target is to retain the league title. Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza will not be available for this game following his red card on Tuesday against Isonga but the Serbian tactician believes that his side has the ability to cope without the influential defensive midfielder. Second placed AS Kigali will be hoping to reduce the gap between them and APR when they play against Ali Bizimungu’s SC Kiyovu which is yet to register a win since November. “We have prepared well for this game following our loss to Gicumbi on Tuesday. This is a very tough league, we cannot rely on the fact that Kiyovu has not been in good form because anything can happen. We want to win the game and we hope that we get maximum points,” explained Eric Nshimiyimana, head coach AS Kigali. Nshimiyimana mentioned that a win will do his side good because it will give the players confidence and it will keep pace on the table leaders who currently have a five-point advantage. APR midfielder Hegman Ngoma (left) is tackled by an Isonga FC defender during the previous league game on Tuesday. APR face Sunrise this afternoon. (S. Ngendahimana) Meanwhile, Mukura host the under pressure Rayon Sports side tomorrow at Amahoro stadium with the latter searching for their first victory since November, a feat that has seen them sit in fourth position with 20 points from 12 games. Rayon Sports head coach Andy Magloire Mfutila said, “We have to be optimistic that we shall win this game. We have been trying hard to win a game but we have been unlucky but against Mukura, we have to once again give the game our best and hope to go home with three points.” Against Mukura, Rayon Sports will be up against Geoffrey Okoko’s side that is eyeing victory to further help the side that was in relegation zone a month ago and is on the rise now in a bid to at least finish in the top half of the table. In the other games tomorrow, third-placed Police FC host Espoir at Kicukiro stadium while Amagaju will be up against Etincelles in Nyamagabe and winless Isonga continues the search for a debut win this season when they take on Musanze at the Ferwafa stadium. Isonga head coach Innocent Seninga returns as in charge of the youthful side after he was sacked three weeks ago and reinstated last week by the club administration. Top scorers list Baby Mbakiye SC Kiyovu 6 Bienvenue Mugenzi Marines 5 Patrick Munyankindi Sunrise 4 Peter Otema Rayon Sports 4 Jacques Tuyisenge Police 3 Haruna Muvunyi Marines 3 Mustafa Kasolo Gicumbi 3 Jean Bosco Harorimana Etincelles 3