Local football league returns after commemoration break

SaturdaySC Kiyovu vs Etincelles 3:30pmPolice FC vs Pepinieres Sunrise FC vs APR FCAmagaju vs Bugesera Espoir vs Kirehe FC SundayMukura vs Marines 3:30pmMusanze vs AS Kigali The national football league returns this weekend after the 23rd commemoration week in honour of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The big game of matchday 23 will pit defending champions APR FC against Sunrise FC at Nyagatare ground on Saturday. Jimmy Mulisa’s team are in second place with 44 points, 11 behind leaders Rayon Sports, who will be playing against Rivers United of Nigeria in the play-off round of the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Sunrise, under former Police FC coach Andre Casa Mbungo, are eighth with 26 points. The match between second from bottom Gicumbi FC and Rayon Sports has been postponed and that means that APR will be eager to cut the gap to eight points. Elsewhere, third-placed Police FC will host league bottom side Pepiniere FC at Kicukiro stadium, while AS Kigali, who are fourth, level on 43 points with Police, will be away to fifth-placed Musanze FC on Sunday. Aloys Kanamugire’s SC Kiyovu, struggling in 13th place with 22 points, four above the relegation zone, face ninth-placed Etincelles (26 points) at Mumena stadium on Saturday. Sixth-ranked Bugesera FC will travel to Nyamagabe to take on Amagaju, who are in 10th position. Mukura Victory Sports (12th) will host third from bottom Marines FC at Huye Stadium. Victory for Marines would see them leapfrog Kiyovu while Mukura will need to win to go five points clear of the relegation zone. With eight league matches remaining, Rayon Sports, who have only lost once – against APR – this season, have now won 17 matches, five more wins than their archrivals have managed. APR have a real fight on their hands to keep the second place as Police FC and AS Kigali are lurking just one point behind. Pepiniere FC, who have won just twice all season, are bottom with 12 points, while Gicumbi FC have 18 points from four wins and six draws. editorial@newtimes.co.rw