Mukura capitalise on rivals lapse to seize top

IN THE RUN:The Huye side last won a league trophy in 1992MUKURA’s amazing run in the Primus league has thrown the league title wide open after going two points clear at the top of the primus league log with just eight matches to go.The southern province side, under the stewardship of Coach Benoît Okoko, has been in blistering form with 10 wins, 3 draws and just two defeats but despite such incredible performances, Okoko still feels his team are not favorites for the league title.“It is only you, the media who are always talking about winning the league, for us we just want to keep winning our games,” the Burundian said, refusing to put any pressure on his players.Part of the resurgence of the club’s fortunes is down to the new club chairman, local tycoon Olivier Nizeyimana, proprietor of Volcanoes Transport Company.The businessman who is a diehard football fan has pumped money in the club.Mukura last won a league trophy in 1992.Police, who are second, are two points adrift of Mukura, and battled from 0-2 down on Sunday to equalise with Rayon Sports, while the biggest shock have been champions APR.Despite having the biggest wage bill and spending huge sums of money to bring in top talent, APR have struggled to gel and the military side are 6 points behind Mukura with a game in hand.The champions’ poor league form has led to speculation that Coach Ernie Brandts’s contract will not be renewed at the end of the season.Former Burundian coach Adel Amrouche was recently sighted in the company of APR officials, though the club later denied they were courting him.Meanwhile, the battle to beat the relegation drop is as fierce as the fight to win the league. Apart from Espoir who, at 6 points, are sure to be relegated, only one point separates AS Kigali, Nyanza, Amagaju and Marines.