APR out to humiliate Kiyovu

TodayAPR vs Kiyovu AS Kigali vs Amagaju SundayMukura vs Etincelles Police vs Muhanga Marines vs Musanze Rayon Sport vs Isonga La Jeunesse vs Espoir Defending champions APR will target maximum points when they host rivals SC Kiyovu in a national league match at Amahoro stadium at 3.30pm today.The military side, who are nine points behind leaders Rayon Sports and eight adrift of second-placed Polic FC, and already out of the title race, will be aiming to restore their pride and maintain the third-place with five matches remaining.The Andreas Spiers’ youthful side are well aware that Kiyovu, despite having their own problems on and off the field, are never easy to beat thus the need to be at their best to be able to pick maximum points. Winners of a record 13 league titles, including the last three back-to-back, APR is in third place with 36 points, four ahead of fourth-placed Mukura in 21 matches played. Leaders Rayon have 45 points, one better than Police. SC Kiyovu under coach François Kalisa are demanding the club two-months salary arrears and have dropped to eighth position following last weekend’s 1-2 loss to Rayon. The Green Baggies have 29 points after winning eight times (all coming in the first round under former coach Jean Baptist Kayiranga) , drawing five and losing eight times.Both APR and Kiyovu, but particularly the former, have performed below par this season, leaving the contest for the title a two-horse race between Rayon and Police, two teams that have a similar mission to usurp APR’s firm grip on the Rwanda league in the last 18 seasons.Elsewhere today, fifth-placed AS Kigali host Amagaju at Stade de Kigali.On Sunday, relegation-bound Etincelles will play Mukura at Kamena grounds hoping to pull off a shock win at a ground where very few visiting teams get away with a result. A win for Etincelles will help them move above Isonga, who visit the leaders Rayon in Nyanza. Mukura will not want to lose twice in a space of seven days after going down 2-1 to Isonga last weekend.Second-placed Police have a tough task against AS Muhanga, who eliminated them from the Peace Cup competition this season. The Cops side will head to Muhanga in a bid to keep pressure on Rayon.However, Goran Kopunovic will be without key striker Meddie Kagere, who is suspended for the game, while Rayon will also be without their Burundian on-form midfielder Cedric Hamissi, who is also serving a one match suspension.Two of the bottom three clubs, Marines [17], Isonga [15] and Etincelles [14] face relegation to the second division.