Rayon coach hails Kwizera's influence

Sunday Pipiniere 1-1 Sunrise FC SaturdayAS Kigali 0-0 BugeseraMusanze 0-0 APR FCKirehe FC 2-1 Etincelles Espoir 1-1 AmagajuMukura 2-1 Kiyovu Marines 0-3 Rayon sports Djuma Masudi, the Rayon Sports coach, has praised the influence midfielder Pierrot Kwizera has had on the team since the Burundi international joined the club two years ago. Masudi said that, since Kwizera joined, Rayon Sports has changed for the better, with the Blues now leading the national football league table with ten points after four rounds of matches. On Sunday, Sunrise FC, who had led the table since match-day one, missed the chance to stay top after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Pipiniere at Ruyenzi ground. Alexis Orotomal scored the opening goal for Sunrise in the fourth minute while veteran centre-back Omar Hitimana netted the equaliser in the 26th minute. Sunrise FC effectively dropped to second on goal difference while the result means Jean Baptiste Kayiranga’s newly promoted Pepiniere registered their first point of the season. On Saturday, Rayon Sports defeated Marines 3-0 at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu to go on top of the table. Kwizera scored a first-half brace, in the 22nd and 38th minutes, while Mali forward Diarra Camara netted the third in the 87th minute, for his first goal of the campaign. Kwizera, who won the player of the year award last season, is the league top scorer this campaign with four goals in four matches, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed, especially by his coach. Masudi, himself a club legend, praised Kwizera saying, “We are pleased to have him here, the way he manages to turn things around for Rayon Sports on the field is amazing.” “Since he arrived here, he has been a key part of the team, he has worked really hard and you can see that he wants to take responsibility on the pitch and wants the team to achieve their full potential. We have many good players but Pierrot is incredible,” added former Burundi forward Masudi. In July, Kwizera signed a two-year contract extension to remain at Rayon Sports until end of the 2017/18 season after the 25-year-old help the club to the 2015 Peace Cup title, beating archrivals APR FC 1-0 in the final, as well as to a second place finish in the league, behind APR. About the team, Masudi said that everything has changed in and around the team. “We have a united team with the best team spirit and comradeship you can possibly get. The players have become more competitive and we hope the team will continue to do well for the rest of the season.” “We started the season well but we need to work hard for the rest of the matches, we are leading the table, which is good but there is still a long way to go before we can start thinking of winning the title. At this level, you really have to perform well and consistently,” he added. In the other fixtures, Mukura beat SC Kiyovu 2-0 at Huye Stadium, thanks to goals from Yusuf Habimana and Hussein Cyiza in the 11th and 72nd minutes, respectively. Espoir drew their fourth straight match sharing spoils with Amagaju in a 1-1 stalemate in Rusizi. Shabban Hussein scored for the visitors in the 54th before Bodo Ndikumaba equalised for Espoir in the 79th minute. Newly promoted Kirehe FC moved into the top four after defeating Etincelles 2-1 at Nyakarambi ground on Saturday. Forward Ismi Kagabo put Hamiss ‘Kishi’ Sogonya’s team ahead on 35th minute, before Etincelles equalised in the 48th minute through former Rayon Sports striker Gentil Kambale Salite. But skipper Ibrahim Ndikumasabo won the game for the hosts, converting the winner in the 54th minute. editorial@newtimes.co.rw