Musanze out to stop AS Kigali, Police face Kiyovu test

Today Musanze vs AS Kigali 3:30pm Police FC vs SC Kiyovu APR vs AS Muhanga Espoir vs Mukura Rwamagana vs Gicumbi Amagaju vs Etincelles Bugesera vs Marines Hussein Barack’s Musanze FC are seeking to end AS Kigali’s unbeaten run when the two square-off on match-day nine of the Azam Rwanda Premier League on Saturday afternoon at Ubworoherane stadium. Musanze are 10th on the table and host league leaders seeking to be the first team to stun Eric Nshimiyimana’s title hopefuls. Musanze are looking for their third league win after losing 4, drawing 3 and winning two thus far this season. As for AS Kigali, fresh from overpowering Amagaju FC 2-0 in midweek, the 2013 Peace Cup winners will also go into the game looking to stretch the unbeaten streak to ten matches. Looking ahead to today’s match, Musanze FC head coach Baraka revealed that he has no injury worries and his team is ready to stop high-flying AS Kigali, with top scorer Peter Otema looking to add to his four goals. “It is tough to defeat AS Kigali but it’s possible. We need to be tactically strong and very clever when executing our game-plan,” admitted the Tanzanian tactician. In a separate interview, his AS Kigali counterpart, Nshimiyimana noted, “As always, we want to win and we will give our best to get (yet) another win on board. As table leaders, we are everyone’s target but I’m confident we can overcome the challenge as we bid for our first league title.” In other games, second-placed Police FC, which trounced bottom side AS Muhanga 5-1 on Wednesday in the highest scoring league game so far this season, will be up against SC Kiyovu at Amahoro national stadium. The Nyamirambo-based Green Baggies, who stand sixth with 13 points, will be looking to bounce from Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at hands of Godfroid Okoko’s Mukura. Third-placed Mukura Victory Sports travel to Rusizi to take on Alphonse Gatera’s Espoir FC, who were held to a 1-all draw by struggling Etincelles in mid-week. Defending champions APR host debutants winless AS Muhanga at Kicukiro stadium looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s goalless draw against Emmanuel Ruremesha’s Gicumbi FC. Elsewhere, 14th-placed Bugesera FC host Marines FC at Nyamata playground looking for their second league win after losing four, drawing three and managing just a solitary one win. The Nyamagabe district-sponsored Amagaju FC entertain second from bottom Etincelles at Nyagasenyi stadium eyeing to recover from mid-week 2-0 loss to AS Kigali. After this weekend fixtures, the league heads into a month-long break due AFCON 2017 and 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers – the league will resume on December 11. Top-scorers Isaie Songa Police 6 Ernest Sugira AS Kigali 5 Davis Kasirye Rayon Sports 4 Rodrigue Murengezi AS Kigali 4 Peter Otema Musanze 4 Muhadjili Hakizimana Mukura 4 Christopher Ndayishimiye Mukura 3 League Table