THEY have never won anything major in club history since joining the topflight league 2001, may be apart from the 2013 Peace Cup. But how close are AS Kigali to winning this year’s Azam Rwanda Premier League? For the first time in a long time, we could be witnessing a four-horse title race this season, thanks to AS Kigali and SC Kiyovu for stepping up their game. No team other than giants APR or archrivals Rayon Sports has won the championship since 2009 when Atraco FC (now defunct) defied odds to do so. They are also the only side in history to challenge the military side and the ‘Blues’ to win the league and Peace Cup in the same season. With nine match rounds to go this season, the City of Kigali-sponsored side top the table with 42 points, one solitude point ahead of APR in second, a four-lead to third-place Kiyovu and six points ahead of defending champions Rayon Sports in fourth. At this particular point as the chase for the title gets tougher and rougher, men will have to start separating from boys. The question is where will AS Kigali be found among the two boxes? Eric Nshimiyimana’s AS Kigali heavily invested in signing new players at the start of the 2017/2018 season, and most people it looked like the ‘Manchester City’ of Rwanda, only that at this stage in English Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side looked unbeatable for the title. AS Kigali may be at the top of the charts after 21 league games played but they should not be fooled, they are in no better position for the title at all if they don’t build winning consistency in their remaining nine league games, especially against top contenders. APR have one game in hand whilst Ivan Minneart’s Rayon have played three games less. Rayon and AS Kigali are yet to meet in their league’s second-leg tie after the game was postponed last month. It’s not just a matter of three points at stake, but rather a indicator of how far and how determined either of the two hopefuls are willing to go to win the league. Good thing is, at least for AS Kigali, Rayon Sports are juggling the domestic competitions and the CAF Confederation Cup, fighting to reach the round of last eight. After goalless spoils with Young Africans of Tanzania this Wednesday, the human aspect is the pressure, stress, fatigue, and injuries will play part in cracking Rayon for trying to do the impossible at the continental level. This gives AS Kigali and Coach Nshimiyimana the opportunity to concentrate and capitalize on the league. However, AS Kigali have a lot to worry about for a club that has only faced APR as a major archrival in the league second round. If they really have title ambitions like they claim, AS Kigali will have to overcome Kiyovu, Police and Rayon Sports among other major forces. Statistically, Kiyovu’s lack of consistency, being lightweight defensively and struggling with finishing brilliance where they only managed to net 26 goals out of 22 league games. For the law enforcers (Police FC), it’s all but over as far as the title race is concerned. Things seem to have fallen apart and there is no remedy. After 21 games, they have 33 points on top of six defeats. As usual, they are trying to emerge from toil and coach troubles. The wildest dream they can have it to finish in top four, which also won’t come easy. Winning the league title would be a milestone and highlight of Nshimiyimana’s coaching career but the mounting pressure and rivalry from usual suspects will put him to test. Indeed, given his experience as a former player and now a coach, having lifted the trophy as a player with APR, he is aware of that. Failure to hold on to the lead will explain a lot but equally will raise a lot more questions about AS Kigali and Nshimiyimana’s abilities. In the last three seasons, AS Kigali have been a regular top four contender, knocking on the league trophy door but failing to allocate the opening key. Now more than ever, this could be time for them to write a different story. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
