Derby day

Kiyovu lock horns with Rayon Sport Playing todayKiyovu vs Rayon Sports (Regional)Musanze vs Mukura (Musanze)Amagaju vs ATRACO (Nyamagabe)Electrogaz vs Marines (Kicukiro) Playing on SundayAS Kigali vs Police (Regional) RWANDA’S oldest clubs SC Kiyovu and Rayon Sport lock horns in the Primus National Football League this afternoon at Nyamirambo stadium. With four rounds of matches remaining to the end of the end of the season, the two old rivals are all but out of the title race, so all they can fight for is to finish inside the top four. Already the top three spots are occupied by APR, Etincelles and Atraco in that order. Rayon Sport occupy fourth place while their rivals are fifth. Kiyovu have won eight, drawn four and lost five of their 17 matches but their coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira is positive going into today’s clash. The former Rwandan international Ntagwabira, who was once linked with a move to the Blues, is ready to tame the six-time league champions. There is no love lost between the two clubs and their meetings always one of the most anticipated matches in Rwandan football. Ntagwabira said, “We know what to expect from Rayon, so we’re well prepared to face them. To be honest with you, I don’t have preference for any particular game.” “I take the game against Rayon like any other (game). They (Rayon) don’t have anything special about them, none the less, we cannot afford to underestimate their abilities,” noted the ex-APR and Atraco coach. A league winner with both APR and Atraco, Ntagwabira will be without striker Titi Ntamuhanga who is down with a bout of malaria. On the other hand, Rayon will play without key men including; Yusuf Ndayishimiye, Idrissa Kaye, Abdul Uwimana and Pappy Gasana. Ndayishimiye is serving a club ban for indiscipline; Kaye is yet to return back from Uganda despite playing only on a single league game for the Blues while Uwimana and Gasana are out with malaria and arm injury respectively. However, coach Jean Baptist Kayiranga is confident that Peter Kagabo, Theoneste Muhayimana, Christian Uwumukiza and Djamal Mwiseneza will play a vital role in the absence of injured players. “Despite the absence of key players, I will use the available players. Whichever team I put out, we shall be going for all three point. “I have confidence in the available players and I believe we are capable of winning the game,” noted that former AS Kigali coach. Going into today’s clash, Rayon hold a four points caution ahead of their opponents. The 2007 league champions, Atraco have a tricky away trip to Amagaju in Nyamagabe. Sam Timbe’s side are third on the table standing. The taxi-men side head to Nyamagabe without the services of midfielders Mike Sebalinga and Jean d’Amour Uwimana, who are suspended. At the end of the table, the bottom two sides Musanze and Mukura clash in Musanze. League Table P W D L PtsAPR 16 12 3 1 39Etincelles 18 10 6 2 36 Atraco 16 10 4 2 34Rayon 18 9 5 3 32Kiyovu 17 8 4 5 28Police 17 7 6 4 27 Electrogaz 17 4 6 7 18 Marines 18 5 2 11 17AS Kigali 17 3 5 9 14Amagaju 17 2 7 8 13Mukura 17 4 1 12 13Musanze 18 2 5 11 11 Best Striking TeamAPR -35 goalsPolice -31 goalsRayon Sport -27 goalsAtraco -26 goals Best Defending teamAtraco -12 goalsKiyovu -12 goalsEtincelles -13 goalsAPR -15 goals Top ScorersRoger Tchouassi (Police) 13 Bokota Labama (APR) 10 Jean Lomami (Atraco) 7 Peter Kagabo (Rayon) 7 Papy Gasana (Rayon) 7 J.D. Harorimana (Etincelles) 7 Papy Kamanzi (Marines) 6 Victoire Manirakiza (Etincelles) 4 Idesbard Nshuti (Kiyovu) 4 Karim Gashugi (Police) 4 SuspensionsHardy Hakizimana (Etincelles)Mike Sebalinga (Atraco)Jean d’Amour Uwimana (Atraco)Kabadi Kitabunyi (Mukura)Didier Kapet (APR)Tchimanga Mutamba (APR)Aphrodise Mungwarareba (Police)Eric Yirirwahandi (Police)Roger Tchouassi (Police) Ends