Etincelles keen to stun APR

Saturday Mukura vs Kiyovu Marines vs AS Kigali Isonga vs Espoir Amagaju vs Gicumbi Sunday Etincelles vs APR Police vs Sunrise (Postponed) Musanze vs Rayon Sports Followingthe shock loss against Musanze in their last outing, league leaders APR FC visit second from bottom Etincelles on Sunday hoping to avoid another slip-up at Tam-Tam stadium in Rubavu, Western Province. The army side lead the table with 32 points in 14 matches while Etincelles is in 13th position with 14 points from 15 games. The Rubavu-based side have lost seven games, drawn five and won only three while the reigning league champions, APR have won ten, drawn two and lost two. “We lost our last game against Musanze but we don’t want to lose again, we are focused to win this match because it is very important, we know Etincelles won’t be a walk-over. That is why we must be well prepared and focused,” APR assistant coach, Vincent Mashami told Saturday Sport. But for Enticelles head coach Moussa Gatera, who replaced Rajab Bizumuremyi last month, a win against the champions would be a major boost to their chances of avoiding relegation. He said, “We want to move away from the danger (relegation) zone. We desperately need these three points more than APR and we’ll fight until the last minute.” “I don’t know if I can win against APR but we have prepared well and our confidence is high after beating (1-0) Musanze, so we are motivated and I believe that we are in good position to give them (APR) a run for their money,” noted the former Sunrise FC coach. On Saturday, second-placed AS Kigali visit seventh-placed Marines in Rubavu where the home team have already held APR and beat Police at Tam-Tam stadium this season. Eric Nshimiyimana’s AS Kigali will need to win the game to keep pressure on APR, which is ahead with four points. Bottom side Isonga will face Espoir at Kicukiro ground but the later will go into the game on the back of a 5-1 loss at the hands of Amagaju in midweek. It was Espoir’s heaviest defeat of the season, which left Alphonse Gatera’s team on 8th position with 18 points. Also today, SC Kiyovu, on 10th position, have a tricky away fixture against 11th-placed MUkura Victory Sport—the two sides are separated by two points. Struggling Rayon Sports will visit Musanze. It will be the first match in charge for interim coach Sosthene Habimana after the sacking of head coach Andy Mfutila last week. Meanwhile, teams will observe a one minute silence to remember former Rwandan international Jean Marie Ntagwabira, who passed away on Monday night and all players will wear black armband during this weekend league games. The game between Sunrise and Police FC has been postponed—Ntagwabira was technical director of Sunrise. The former Amavubi player and coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira was laid to rest on Thursday at Kanombe military cemetery.