APR FC edge closer to 16th league title

Wednesday Amagaju 0-1 APRMusanze 2-2 PoliceRwamagana 1-2 Espoir Tuesday Bugesera 3-0 GicumbiAS Kigali 3-2 EtincellesAS Muhanga 1-1 Sunrise FC Reigning champions APR FC moved a step closer to retaining the Rwanda national football league title after picking up a 1-0 win over hosts Amagaju on Wednesday afternoon in Nyamagabe, Southern Province. Striker Issa Bigirimana scored the lone goal of the game to keep the military side at the top of the league standings with 61 points, seven points ahead of second-placed Rayon Sports, who have however played two games less. APR have three games to play to wrap up their campaign. Nizar Khanfir’s team were without four key players, who were recently indefinitely suspended by the club over indiscipline. The four star players include; centre-back Emery Bayisenge, midfielders Jean Claude Iranzi and Tumaine Ntamuhanga, as well as striker Michel Ndahinduka. “It was a much needed win and we are happy to have grabbed all three points away to a tough place,” who are hard to beat,” said APR assistant coach Emmanuel Rubona. He added that, “It was not an easy game mainly because of the poor condition of the pitch but players did their best to exploit the few opportunities that we got.” The 15-time league champions need to win their last three fixtures - that include a home tie against relegation-threatened Musanze FC before visiting Marine FC and later winding up their season with a home showdown against AS Kigali to be crowned champions again. In other matches played on Wednesday, Police drew 2-2 away to Musanze in Nyakinama to stay in fifth place with 43 points, while Espoir FC edged second-from bottom Rwamagana City FC 2-1 at FERWAFA turf. editorial@newtimes.co.rw ********************************************* League table Team PD W D L Pts APR FC 27 19 4 4 61Rayon 25 15 9 1 54Mukura 26 17 2 7 53AS Kigali 27 15 8 4 53Police FC 27 11 10 6 43SC Kiyovu 26 12 5 9 41Bugesera 27 9 7 11 34Gicumbi Fc 27 8 10 9 34Sunrise Fc 27 8 8 11 32Etincelles 27 7 8 12 28Amagaju 27 6 10 11 28Espoir 27 6 10 11 28Marines 26 5 12 9 27Musanze 27 6 7 14 25Rwamagana 27 6 5 16 23AS Muhanga 26 3 6 17 15