Rayon Sports crowned champs

Primus League SaturdayRayon Sports 2-3 Espoir APR 1-1 EtincellesIsonga 2-2 Muhanga Kiyovu 0-2 Musanze Mukura 0-0 AmagajuPolice 0-1 AS Kigali Marines 0-0 La Jeunesse RWANDAN side Rayon Sports won the 2012/13 Primus National Football League title on Saturday despite a 2-3 loss against Espoir at the Amahoro stadium. Didier Gomes da Rosa’s team wrapped up the league with one game to spare last week after their 1-0 win over Musanze. The Nyanza-based outfit have dropped points only five times all season in the league and their dominance has been clear for all to see. Back to the game against Musanze, Burundian import Karim Nigiziyimana gave the hosts the lead on 10th minute when Espoir goalie Samuel Ngendahimana failed to clear the latter’s shot. Rayon, however, should have been leading 2-0, but Amissi Cedric missed another clear chance inside the penalty area to complete the mission. Former Rayon Sports striker Said Abedi Makasi, who got himself a hattrick, equalised through a brilliant shot on 28th minutes. Amissi unleashed a left-footed shot on 32nd minutes to make it 2-1 for the blues after meeting Fuadi Ndayisenga’s set-piece. Five minutes before recess, Makasi equalised with his master piece shot from outside the goal area, which left goalie Gerard Bikorimana crawling in the goal posts. Both sides went into recess tied on a 2-all draw. Amissi and Djamal Mwiseneza would have won the game but their efforts were denied by the goal posts while others were off target. Makasi then secured the winner on 65th minute when he dribbled past Abouba Sibomana to drive another sharp shot past Bikorimana to secure the victory for the Rusizi-based club. Despite the loss, Rayon Sports still went ahead to win the season’s league title. This is Rayon Sport’s 7th league title in 45 years. The blues topple the league standings with 57 points in 26 matches played. They have scored 33 goals with Amissi leading the goal scoring chart with 16 goals scored in only 12 matches this season. They were then crowned champions and awarded Rwf10 million winners’ cheque from sponsors Bralirwa. They have also earned an automatic spot to represent Rwanda in next year’s Africa Champions League as well as Cecafa/Kagame Club Championship. Elsewhere, Isonga and Etincelles were relegated after their 2-all and 1-all draw against Muhanga and APR respectively. They will be replaced by Esperance and Gicumbi who were promoted from the second division league. Second-placed Police suffered a 1-0 defeat by AS Kigali while Sc Kiyovu lost 2-0 vs Musanze. Mukura was forced to a goalless draw against visitors Amagaju while Marines secured their firm stand in the Primus league after a goalless draw against La Jeunesse. Goal scorer’s chart Cedric Hamissi (Rayon Sports) - 16Gentil Kambale (Rayon Sports) - 13Peter Kagabo (Police) - 12