Battle for New Year champ: As top clubs target top spot at New Year

Playing today Kiyovu vs Rayon 6pmNyanza vs Mukura 3:30pmEspoir vs Marines Police FC vs AS Kigali Etincelles vs La Jeunesse Playing on Wednesday Amagaju vs APR FC As world top clubs clamor to be on top of the table into the New Year, five teams back here at home will be aiming for top spot of the Primus National Football league when the league return this afternoon with 8 fixtures on card. Current table leaders Mukura, who have 17 points in eight matches played this season, make a short trip to Muhanga to take on newly promoted Nyanza FC. Joint second placed sides Police and Etincelles will be gunning for top spot against AS Kigali and La Jeunesse respectively. Six-time league champions Rayon Sports, who are placed on fifth position, level with defending champions APR on 14 points, have a tricky fixture against old rivals SC Kiyovu at Amahoro national stadium. Rayon, who have been struggling with players’ cash rows recently, resumed training last week after senior players agreed to return to training, but after the club promised to clear their outstanding salary arrears. With some order returning to the house, coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira has a full squad from which to pick the best possible team for the biggest game of the round against a side that has regrouped silently in preparation for next year’s Orange Confederation Cup. Ntagwabira said, “I have an injury-free squad. We are ready for the battle. This is our biggest game of the season after APR, so we will need to be at very best if we’re to get all three points, but we’re confident.” Kiyovu, under former Rayon Sports coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga are confident about their chances of denting the Blues’ hopes of winning the league. Meanwhile, the champions APR will be expected to return to Kigali with three points from their visit to Nyamagabe in the Southern Province to take Amagaju tomorrow. However, win or not, the 12-time league winners are highly unlikely to go into the New Year on top of the table. For them to achieve this, the top three Mukura, Etincelles and Police would have to lose. bonnie.mugabe@newtimes.co.rw