Masudi insists Rayon under no pressure

Sunday Sunrise FC 1-1 Bugesera SC Kiyovu 1-0 Pepiniere Amagaju 0-2 Rayon Sports Saturday Police FC 1-1 Kirehe FC Espoir 2-0 Musanze Gicumbi 0-1 Marines Friday APR FC 2-1 Etincelles Rayon Sports coach Djuma Masudi has insisted that his side is under no pressure after going seven games unbeaten in the national football league following a 2-0 win over Amagaju FC on Sunday at Nyagisenyi ground in Nyamagabe district. The league leaders have won six and drawn one in their first seven league matches this season. On Sunday, Rayon Sports secured all three points thanks to goals from right back Mustapha Nsengiyumva in the 30th minute and Burundian international Shassir Nahimana in the 43rd minute. The win took Masudi’s team to 19 points, five clear of second-placed Police FC, who were held to 1-all draw by Kirehe FC earlier on Saturday. Espoir FC are third with 13 points, Etincelles fourth with 12 points while defending champions APR FC are fifth with 11 points having played two games less. “I’m proud of my players and how they have been playing this season. We have to keep the spirit and momentum because it is still too early, they have been wonderful in very game, everyone is dreaming to go higher but they all know we must keep working hard,” Masudi said after Sunday’s win. He added, “We want to continue with the same spirit and we must continue to enjoy our way of playing because we’re playing without any pressure. If you’re playing well, winning matches and Rwandans are talking about you; it shows that you’re doing the right thing.” The former Rayon Sports and APR striker noted that, “It was a very tough game against Amagaju but the players responded well and scored two goals in the first half, which was very important, we are going back to prepare for the next match (against Gicumbi FC).” In other matches played on Sunday, Sunrise FC and Bugesera FC played a 1-all draw in Nyagatare District. Vedaste Niyibizi gave the home team the lead in the 35th minute before Farouk Ruhinda equalized for the visitors in the 40th minute. Elsewhere, SC Kiyovu secured their second win of the season, edging bottom-placed Pepiniere FC 1-0 at Mumena Stadium—the lone strike came in the 62nd minute through Djuma Nizeyimana’s penalty after Hassan Waswa handled the ball in the forbidden area. League table Team PD W D L Pts Rayon Sports 7 6 1 0 19 Police FC 7 4 2 1 14 Espoir 7 3 4 0 13 Etincelles 7 4 0 3 12 APR FC 5 3 2 0 11 Sunrise 7 3 2 2 11 Kirehe 6 3 2 1 11 AS Kigali 6 3 1 2 10 Bugesera 7 2 3 2 9 Musanze 7 2 2 3 8 SC Kiyovu 7 2 2 3 8 Mukura VS 6 2 1 3 7 Gicumbi 7 1 1 5 4 Amagaju 7 1 1 5 4 Marines 7 1 1 5 4 Pepiniere 6 0 1 5 1 editorial@newtimes.co.rw