Rivals hoping to close gap as league resumes

PNFL, TodayNyanza vs Marines Amagaju vs Mukura Isonga vs Kiyovu SundayEspoir vs Rayon Sports La Jeunesse vs APR Etincelles vs AS KigaliAfter a week of no sporting action due to the 18th commemoration of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the national football league returns this weekend with six fixtures across the country.Three matches are on the cards on Saturday and another three on Sunday, but notably leaders and title favourites Police FC, have a rest this weekend.Relegation battlers Nyanza and Marines face off in Nyanza, while Nyamagabe will host the Southern Province derby clash between Mukura against relegation threatened Amagaju.Mukura, who are second on the table, nine points behind Police but with two games in hand, will be hoping for a win to close the gap as the season gets to the final stretch.Coach Godefroid Okoko is optimistic over his team’s chances to go close gap on leaders Police with a victory. He said, “We must win to stay in the title race.” But the clash between youthful side Isonga against SC Kiyovu at Kigali regional stadium in Nyamirambo promises to be the pick of the weekend. Isonga, who are in sixth position with 29 points, proved a hard nut when they stunned Champions with a 2-1 victory in the first round and lost 1-2 to Kiyovu in the first leg.Coach Eric Nshimiyimana, who says he has a fully focused squad, will be going for maximum points as his team seeks to push for a place in top four in their first season in the topflight division.Despite the fact he will be without his two key defenders Heritier Turatsinze and Faustin Usengimana, Nshimiyimana says, “We’ll miss them but the players available are in a good shape and ready to give their best.”APR FC, who are still smarting from their first round exit from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel, last weekend, face La Jeunesse at Stade de Kigali, while Rayon Sports travel to Rusizi for a clash with lowly Espoir. Police sits in the driving seat with 44 points, while APR, who have played three matches less, are in third position ten points off the pace.