APR FC coach urges caution after vital win

Sunday APR FC 2-0 MusanzeAmagaju 1-1 Rwamagana City Saturday AS Muhanga 2-1 Gicumbi FCMukura VS 1-0 AS KigaliSC Kiyovu 3-2 Sunrise FC Reigning champions APR FC may be just six points away from lifting a record-extending 16th league title following a well deserved 2-0 win over Musanze FC on Sunday at Kigali Regional Stadium, but their coach is not about to be carried away. Nizar Khanfir has called on his players to remain calm and focused until the final whistle in their last game. Striker Issa Bigirimana and midfielder Fiston Nkizingabo were both on target for the military side, to extend their lead at the top of the league standing to 64 points, after 28 matches. APR now need to win their remaining two matches to successfully retain the title, regardless of what happens elsewhere. Khanfir’s side are now eight points ahead of second-placed Mukura Victory Sports (27 matches) and a further 10 points above Rayon Sports, who, however, have played 25 matches. “It is a very important result but we have to keep working hard until the last game. We need to concentrate on the next game. I am happy with the way my team has played today, but we haven’t won anything yet, so we need to stay grounded and try to get six more points,” Khanfir said after the match. The Tunisian tactician added that: “The next two matches are more important for us, we win both and we are champions again, so we need to stay focused and not take anything for granted because we expect both (matches) to be tough.” APR’s remaining two matches are against Marines on June 15 and AS Kigali on July 10. Elsewhere, Amagaju FC and Rwamagana City played out a 1-all draw in Nyamagabe. With the point, Amagaju leapfrogged Etincelles into 10th place with 29 points while Rwamagana City FC remains 15th with 24 points, with two games to go. AS Muhanga beat Gicumbi FC 2-1 on Saturday, but still remains rooted at the bottom of the table with 18 points from 27 matches. League table Team PD W D L Pts APR FC 28 20 4 4 64Mukura 27 18 2 7 56Rayon 25 15 9 1 54AS Kigali 28 15 8 5 53Police FC 27 11 10 6 43Kiyovu 27 12 6 9 42Bugesera 27 9 7 11 34Gicumbi Fc 28 8 10 10 34Sunrise Fc 28 8 9 11 33Amagaju 28 6 11 11 29Etincelles 27 7 8 12 28Espoir 27 6 10 11 28Marines 26 5 12 9 27Musanze 28 6 7 15 25Rwamagana 28 6 6 16 24AS Muhanga 27 4 6 17 18 editorial@newtimes.co.rw