Rayon Sports coach calls for improvement after stalemate

SundayBugesera 1-3 AmagajuMiroplast 1-2 MarinesSC Kiyovu 1-0 MusanzeRayon Sports 1-1 AS Kigali SaturdayAPR FC 2-0 SunriseEtincelles 3-1 Police FCGicumbi 2-1 EspoirKirehe FC 0-1 Mukura VS Rayon Sports Assistant head coach Hamadi ‘Katauti’ Ndikumana has called on the blues players to improve ahead of their next Azam Rwanda Premier League fixtures after a 1-1 stalemate against AS Kigali in their season opener on Sunday at Kigali Stadium. The defending champions took the lead in the 42nd minute through their new signing Caleb Bonfils Bimenyimana from the penalty spot and looked destined for victory until right-back Eric Iradukunda broke their hearts with AS Kigali’s equaliser in the 89th minute. “We played better and we should have seen the game out but we somehow lost concentration, made a mistake and we have been punished. Maybe next time, we need to manage the game better,” Katauti said, while addressing the post-match press conference on behalf of head coach, Olivier Karekezi. Rayon Sports host their old rivals SC Kiyovu at Kigali Stadium after the international break, while AS Kigali will next face newly promoted Miloplast FC. “It is very disappointing to lead the game for so long and make one mistake in the last minute, for me, today, it is a case of two points more than one gained,” noted the former Rwanda international defender, who started his coaching career last season as Sosethen Habimana’s assistant at Musanze FC. It is the second time in less than two weeks that Karekezi and Katauti have failed to beat their former Amavubi teammate, Eric Nshimiyimana, after losing 1-0 in Agaciro Development Fund tournament. On his part, Nshimiyimana said: “I think we deserved at least a point from this game, I must thank my players for the fighting spirit from start to end, and they never gave up until the last minute.” “We came into the game aiming for maximum points but we will take a draw, we need to take the positives, and they are many, from today’s game and look forward to doing better in the next matches,” stated the AS Kigali head coach. Elsewhere on Sunday, Ramadan Nova scored the quickest goal of the season so far as Andre Casa Mbungo’s SC Kiyovu defeated Musanze FC 1-0 at Mumena stadium, while new league entrants, Miroplast FC lost 1-2 at home to visitors Marines at Mironko stadium. Amagaju FC won 3-1 against hosts Bugesera FC, at Kicukiro Stadium to finish the opening weekend at the top of the 16-team league table. Amani Mugisho, Ndizeye Innocent and Hussein Tchabalala Shabban were on target for Southern Province-based side. Nigerian import Samson Ikechukwu netted the consolation goal for new head coach Ali Bizimungu’s team. editorial@newtimes.co.rw