National league returns on February 12

Match Day 10 Feb. 12Sunrise FC vs Bugesera AS Kigali vs Marines Gicumbi vs Rayon Sports Etincelles vs Musanze AS Muhanga vs Rwamagana City Feb. 14Mukura vs Amagaju Feb. 17Police FC vs Espoir Feb. 20SC Kiyovu vs APR FC Rwanda National Football League is set to resume on February 12 after a three-month break to allow Rwanda to host and participate in the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament, which ends on Sunday. The league was put on hold on November 7, 2015 to give time to the national football team to prepare not only for CHAN, but also the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers as well as participating in last year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia. The league returns with a lot of changes in place, Mukura Victory Sports will return to their home ground at Huye stadium, which has been under renovation for the past five years. AS Kigali have a revamped Kigali Regional Stadium, and so are Etincelles and Marines FC at Umuganda stadium. The three stadiums hosted Group B, C and D in the CHAN tournament, which climaxes on Sunday with the final match between DR Congo and Mali at Amahoro National Stadium. Hosts Rwanda, finished top of Group A that also included Ivory Coast, Morocco and Gabon, but were eliminated in the quarter-final after losing 2-1 in extra time at the hands of DR Congo. AS Kigali lead the league table with 21 points, three ahead of second-placed Rayon Sports while the defending champions, APR FC are in third position also with 18 points, but have scored less goals. Muhanga-based AS Muhanga are bottom of the 16-team league table standing with just one point after nine rounds of matches. editorial@newtimes.co.rw