Sunrise eye top-four finish

March 26 Sunrise FC Vs Rayon Sports Sunrise FC are will do “whatever it takes” to fulfil their ambition to finish in top four this season as the Azam Rwanda Premier League enters the second round. The Nyagatare-based side’s head coach Alphonse Gatera sent out what would sound like a warning to their rivals in an interview with Times Sport ahead of his team’s Matchday 15 encounter with defending champions Rayon Sports, slated for Monday. Gatera’s team are currently in the fourth position in table standings with 25 points after 14 games, four points behind leaders AS Kigali, who have played one more game. Rayon Sports are in third place on 27 points and will go into the match knowing that a victory would propel to the summit. Should Sunrise FC upset Ivan Minneart’s Rayon Sports, they will leapfrog the Blues in the third place as the league reaches the halfway mark. “We are not focused on the Rayon Sports’ game in particular; our focus is largely on doing whatever it takes to finish in the top four. It’s an ambitious target, but, absolutely an achievable one, we need to believe in ourselves and collectively work towards achieving it,” Gatera said on Tuesday. Gatera played for a long time with Rayons Sport as a centre back. There is no doubt the game against the champions (Rayon Sports) is going to be tough, but we will be playing at home, before our fans, it is important that we win to boost our confidence going into the second round.” Sunrise FC were promoted to the topflight division in 2014 and they went on to finish fourth in their debut season, ahead of the likes of Rayon Sports and SC Kiyovu during the 2014/15 campaign. During that season, Sunrise registered some outstanding results especially at home, defeating APR 3-0 and holding both AS Kigali, Rayon Sports and Police to 1-1 draws in front of their home fans. They also picked some crucial away wins including a 1-0 victory against Marines, 3-0 over Isonga and a 1-1 draw with SC Kiyovu. Previously Mukura VS assistant coach and later as caretaker, then Espoir FC and Rwamagana FC as head coach, Gatera joined Sunrise FC last July on a one-year contract, with an option for renewal. editorial@newtimes.co.rw