Mukura end AS Kigali’s unbeaten streak to go top

Wednesday AS Kigali 0-2 MukuraKiyovu 0-2 Rayon Sports It could still be too early for Mukura fans to start counting the chicks, but dreaming of a first league title in the club’s long history, they can after their team upset unbeaten AS Kigali 2-0 on Wednesday at Kigali regional stadium to go top of the league table. Godfroid Okoko’s side did not only move one point clear at the top of the table for the first time since last October, but also became the first team to beat AS Kigali in 13 league matches this season. The win was Mukura’s fourth in a row in a space of ten days since the league resumed on February 14 after a three-month break due to CHAN 2016 held in Rwanda from January 16 to February 7. Burundian forward Christopher Ndayishimiye scored the opening goal in the 12th minute before on-form Muhadjiri Hakizimana doubled the lead in the 41st minute to take his tally to eight goals in the league this season. Although Eric Nshimiyimana’s AS Kigali had inconsequential moments of dominance in the second half, the Volcano Express-sponsored side Mukura was the better side and kept pressing for more goals but was too wasteful with multiple opportunities. “I am out of words, we played some excellent football today and the players deserve credit for putting on such a wonderful performance against the league leaders, who were unbeaten until today,” Okoko told Times Sport. The Burundian tactician added, “It was a well-deserved victory. We are now top of the table, but staying there is definitely going to be the hardest challenge, consistency is very important, but we will try to keep the momentum going into the next games.” Regarding his team’s chances of winning a first league title this season, Okoko replied, “Too early to think about that because there is still 17 league games to play. We need to concentrate on one game at a time, try to manage the pressure and avoid any distractions.” Also on Wednesday, third-placed Rayon Sports defeated traditional archrivals SC Kiyovu 2-0 in a game played under flood lights at the same venue. Burundian import Pierro Kwizera netted in the 42nd minute and Mali international Ismaila Diarra added the second on the hour mark. As it stands, Mukura top the table with 29 points, one ahead of second-placed AS Kigali, Rayon are third with 25 points and reigning champions APR stand in fourth place with 24 points. Kiyovu remains in the 7th spot with 17 points while AS Muhanga and Etincelles occupy the bottom two spots with three and six points respectively. editorial@newtimes.co.rw