Busy Boxing Day for Rwandan clubs

PNFL, Match Day 10TodayAS Kigali vs APR [Amahoro]Rayon Sport vs Etincelles [Muhanga]Isonga vs Kiyovu [Stade de Kigali]Marine vs Espoir [Umuganda]La Jeunnese vs Amagaju [Mumena]Police vs Musanze [Kicukiro]Mukura vs Muhanga [Kamena]Seven National Football League matches are lined up this afternoon with AS Kigali hosting APR at Amahoro stadium on an action packed Boxing Day, while rock bottom Marines hope for a win at home against Espoir.The earlier re-scheduled game between Rayon Sport and Etincelles which was due to be played yesterday has been brought forward to today after both clubs failed to reach a conclusive agreement regarding match revenues and will be played in Nyanza.While AS Kigali, second on eighteen points, will definitely not count a blistering start to their title quest, their opponents, APR fourth, with two points behind the Kigali City sponsored club in the table standings, cannot have ridden on worse wheels.AS Kigali coach Andrew ‘Casa’ Gasambugo will bank on the league’s leading scorer with seven goals, Jimmy Mbaraga, to inflict misery on APR who have one of the solid defense but are likely to be hit with player injuries in central defender Ismail Nshutiyamagara [shoulder], defensive midfielder Jean Baptista Mugiraneza [teeth] and Emery Bayisenge [foot].Gasambugo said yesterday that apart from two players Mwemere Girinshuti and Jean Paul Niyonzima who will miss the game, the rest of the players are in good shape to face the military side.“APR is a more organised side with good players who are more advantaged than the rest of the other league players. Most of the players have the competitive edge having been playing for Amavubi team. I hope it’s going to a good entertaining game,” added the former SEC academy tactician.Janvier Mutijima will replace injured Mwemere at the left full back.Efforts to reach APR’s Nshimiyimana were futile as he couldn’t pick our numerous calls by press time.Elsewhere, Police will have to beat Musanze if any AS Kigali and APR win must not tilt their table standings. Tied on 18 points and a better goal difference over AS Kigali and SC Kiyovu, currently at the summit of the league, can go 21 points clear if they muster victory over Musanze at Kicukiro turf.But SC Kiyovu will not take any Isonga attack on the chin, with the Inyange-sponsored side aware that a home victory will move them to 10 points and will see them leapfrog Muhanga and Mukura into tenth position.Seventh-placed Espoir on thirteen points can also go fifth if they beat bottom side Marines away at Umuganda stadium, if La Jeunesse and Musanze lose or fail to win.Six time champions Rayon Sport host struggling Western Province giants Etincelles in Muhanga. Rayon go into the game knowing that a win will help them close the gap on Police, AS Kigali and Kiyovu, who are tied on 18 points on the league log. La Jeunnese takes on Amagaju, while Mukura is hosting Muhanga in Huye.

Sports

Busy Boxing Day for Rwandan clubs