Bugesera's Mashami plots win over Kiyovu

By Peter Kamasa Saturday Espoir FC vs Marines 3:30pmMukura vs PepiniereSC Kiyovu vs Bugesera FC Sunday Musanze vs Kirehe FC 3:30pmGicumbi FC vs Etincelles Bugesera FC coach Vincent Mashami will be keen to see his team overcome SC Kiyovu on Saturday at Mumena stadium as the second half of the season gets underway. Mashami has made an encouraging start as Bugesera FC head coach since taking over at the start of the season. The club has surged into fifth place on the national football league table with 26 points, three behind AS Kigali, who were due to face Sunrise FC on Friday. SC Kiyovu are struggling in tenth place with 18 points after 15 matches. “We’re focused on winning the game on Saturday, which would help us close the game on the teams above us. We had a good first half of the season but are determined to do even better in the second round,” Mashami told Saturday Sport. The former APR assistant coach noted that, “I’m happy with our position at this stage in the season, but our aim is to be near the top teams for as long as we possibly can.” His counterpart at SC Kiyovu, Aloys Kanamugire admitted that, “Our biggest weakness this season so far, has been inconsistence but hopefully, we can start to put together a decent run of good performances and get good results, starting with Bugesera.” Kanamugire is having a tough season with SC Kiyovu. S. Ngendahimana. Elsewhere on Saturday, twelfth-placed Mukura Victory Sports (15 points) will be looking to start the second half of the campaign with a win over bottom side Pepiniere at Huye Stadium. Sixth-placed Espoir FC will entertain Marines, who are in 14th position with 14 points, six above the relegation zone. On Sunday, Musanze, seventh on the table with 21 points, will host 11th-placed Kirehe FC at Stade Ubworoherane while second from bottom Gicumbi FC will be up against Emmanuel Ruremesha’s eighth-placed Etincelles at Stade Gicumbi. Rayon Sports lead the league table with 36 points, two points ahead of reigning champions APR FC while Police FC are third with their top striker Dany Usengimana leading the top scorer’s chart with 12 goals. Both Rayon Sports and APR will play their match day 16 fixtures after concluding their respective CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League preliminary round matches. APR will play away to Amagaju FC on February 21 while Rayon will face Police FC at Amahoro National Stadium on February 25. editorial@newtimes.co.rw