Marines stun Police

PNFL, YesterdayMarines 1-0 Police APR 4-2 Nyanza Amagaju 0-0 Espoir Rayon 3-0 Etincelles Isonga 1-1 La Jeunesse If indeed like they say, history has a tendency to repeat itself, Marines just somehow handed their sister club APR Fc a big initiative in their pursuit of a 13th league title with a stunning 1-0 home win over title favourites Police on Saturday.Alphonse Dushimimana was the hero of the day with a 68th minute strike that could have a major effect in Police’s hopes of winning their maiden silverware in the club’s eleven years of existence.Three years ago, the same team thwarted Atraco’s title hopes after they held on for a goalless draw at Amahoro stadium in last game of the season when the taxi-men’s side needed to win to be crowned champions regardless of the outcome of APR’s game with Zebra. APR won to take the title. Again, it appears as though history could to repeat itself if Police, who needed maximum points on Saturday in Rubavu, to stay close to APR, fail to beat both Mukura and Isonga in their final two games.Police remain on second place with 47 points, five behind the reigning champions, who wound up their season with a 4-2 thumping of Nyanza while Marines dethroned Etincelles to seventh position with 28 points. Nyanza just survived relegation despite the defeat.With the loss, Police is now required to acquire maximum six points against Mukura on May 15 at Kicukuro and Isonga three days later.APR end season on highHaiti-born striker St. Preux Lionnel scored a brace with skipper Olivier Karekezi and Burundi’s Faty Papy finding the back of the net as the champions made sure their title race goes on till the last day.Emmanuel Ngama and Simon Kipangira scored consolations goals for Nyanza. APR have ended their season leading the league table standings with 52 points, and will be praying that Police fail to get the six points they require to become the fourth team after Rayon Sports (3), Atraco (1) and APR (12) to be crowned Rwandan champions.At Stade de Kigali, Jerome Sina was the man of the match as Rayon thrashed visiting side Etincelles 3-0. The Rwanda international midfielder scored a rapid-fire hattrick on the 60th, 75th and 85th minute to help the blues maintain their status in the big four.Mukura cemented third place without kicking a ball as their opponents SC Kiyovu failed to travel to Huye following a strike over unpaid salaries and bonuses.With the majority of the clubs set to be winding up their season on Tuesday, defending champions APR must now seek divine intervention such that Police falters in their campaign to win twice so as to be assured of their 13th Primus League title.Meanwhile, Espoir, with eight points in 23 matches played this season is the only side which will be relegated after the local football federation approved that next season’s league will be comprised of fourteen teams.Muhanga, Musanze promoted After being relegated last season, both Muhanga and Musanze have made immediate return to the Primus National Football League.Muhanga demolished Gasabo United 3-0 in the return leg of their second division league semifinals playoff encounter played at Ferwafa turf yesterday. Innocent Nzabamwita scored a hattrick to guide his side to the top flight league.At Mumena, Musanze held Esperance to a goalless draw and qualified 2-0 on goal aggregates thanks to the win from the first leg.The two teams will meet in the final on May 19 at Stade de Kigali to determine the second division champions.