Rayon plot to bag third successive win

Today Rayon Sports vs Sunrise 3:30pmEspoir vs Mukura Wednesday AS Muhanga 1-5 PoliceEtincelles 1-1 EspoirGicumbi 0-0 APR Interim coach Sosthène Habimana is eager to turn Rayon Sports into genuine league title contenders as he eyes a third consecutive win when they host Sunrise FC today afternoon at Muhanga Regional Stadium. Both clubs are fresh from morale-boosting wins in midweek and will go into today’s clash looking to start a month-long break on a high note. The league will be called off after this weekend’s fixtures due to the 2018 World Cup and 2017 AFCON qualifiers before resuming on December 11. Habimana, who took over the club’s hot-seat from Frenchman David Donadei on September 22, has been in charge for three games, drawing one 1-1 against defending champions APR before securing identical 1-0 wins over the two promoted sides; Rwamagana City and Bugesera FC. “It’s now three games without a loss, so we have to be happy with the way things are going, our fans can see that things are changing (for the better), but we have to keep working hard as we bid to improve and be consistent,” Habimana told Times Sport on Thursday. The former Rayon Sports midfielder noted that, “The players are up to the task ahead. We’re all aware of what we need to do to become genuine (title) challengers—we need to put together a good run of wins, beginning tomorrow (today) against a very good Sunrise team.” Habimana noted that Sunrise, who finished fourth last season with 40 points, above Rayon Sports, will be hard to beat but added that his men are up for the challenge. Rayon Sports defeated Bugesera courtesy of defender Thierry Manzi’s lone strike at Muhanga stadium on Tuesday to go fourth on the table with 15 points, three behind leaders AS Kigali, while Sunrise (9th with 10 points) secured their third win of the season following a 2-1 win over Rwamagana in the Rwamagana derby. Elsewhere today, on-form Mukura Victory Sports will be away to Alphonse Gatera’s Espoir FC, looking to make it three league wins in a row. Godfroid Okoko’s side defeated SC Kiyovu 2-0 on Tuesday thanks to goals by Muhadjil Hakizimana and Amani Mugisha to go third with 16 points. Meanwhile, 19-year striker Danny Usengimana scored the first hat-trick of his young career as Police thrashed bottom side AS Muhanga 5-1 on Wednesday at Kicukiro stadium. Fabrice Twagizimana and Isaie Songa scored a goal each as Andre Casa Mbungo’s team claimed second position in the table with 16 points, two behind table leaders AS Kigali. editorial@newtimes.co.rw