We are no longer a punching bag, says SC Kiyovu coach

SaturdaySC Kiyovu 3-0 EtincellesMiroplast 1-1 Rayon SportsKirehe FC 0-0 MarinesBugesera 0-0 AS KigaliEspoir 0-0 Mukura After moving two points clear at the top of the league table, SC Kiyovu coach Andre Casa Mbungo has warned that the club is no longer a punching bag like it was in the past. “Kiyovu is not a punching bag anymore, we are in the league to compete and so far we are on the right track of building a strong team,” noted Mbungo, who won the Peace Cup with AS Kigali and Police in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Kiyovu moved two points clear at the top of the league following a resounding 3-0 victory over Etincelles on Saturday. Casa Mbungo’s team leapfrogged AS Kigali from the top spot with 20 points after registering their biggest win of the season at Mumena, while AS Kigali were held to a goalless draw by Bugesera FC at Nyamata ground. “We have done well since I joined Kiyovu this season, but I want my players to keep the same spirit for the rest of the season. Today was an important win for sure. We need to continue winning as many matches as possible,” Mbungo said in the post-match interview. The former Police FC and Rayon Sports midfielder, now SC Kiyovu captain, Fabrice Kakule Mugheni, gave the Mumena-based side the lead in the 21st minute, connecting well with Innocent Habarimana’s cross from the left wing. Striker, Jean Claude Nizeyimana scored the second goal in the 48th minute before Burundian international forward Francis Moustapfa completed the rout in the 90th minute. Former AS Kigali coach, Mbungo admitted that he wants his players to be consistent in order to remain in the marathon race for the title. “I want our supporters to believe in us and the players to believe in themselves, I want SC Kiyovu to compete for the trophies because we are capable of doing that,” he stated after his team’s sixth win after ten matches. This is the same number of wins that Kiyovu managed through the entire last season in which they lost 15 matches and finished with 27 points- this ended in a first relegation of the club in its 52-year history. Mbungo has high hopes of finishing as high in the table as possible this season but his ultimate goal is to guide the ‘Green Baggies’ to the league title for first time since 1993, although he admits it’s too early to start talking about that. “We cannot start talking about winning the title this early in the season but we are contenders for sure because we are at the top, but there is still a long way to go. We have played only 10 games and the remaining 20 games will be even tougher,” he explained. SC Kiyovu are two points ahead of AS Kigali, four ahead of third-placed APR and five better than Rayon Sports, Sunrise FC, Police FC and Mukura Victory Sports. Rayon Sports frustrated Miroplast held defending champions Rayon Sports to 1-all draw at Mironko Stadium. Olivier Karekezi’s team took the lead in the first half through Burundi international striker Shassir Nahimana before Muhamed Akuffo Roo equalized for the hosts in the second period. The match between Kirehe FC and Marines at Nyakarambi ground, and Espoir vs Mukura Victory Sports at Kamarampaka Stadium, both ended goalless. Amagaju FC, who travel to Gicumbi FC on Wednesday, Miroplast and Espoir, occupy the bottom three positions with 8 points each. After match-day 10 fixtures, the league will take a break to allow the national team to take part in CHAN 2018 finals in Morocco from January 12 through February 4. editorial@newtimes.co.rw