No love lost

TKFLSaturdaySC Kiyovu vs Rayon Sports 3:30pm (Amahoro)Gicumbi vs Police 3pm (Gicumbi)Espoir vs AS Kigali (Rusizi)Etincelles vs AS Muhanga (Umuganda)SundayMusanze vs Amagaju 3pm (Musanze)Marines vs Mukura (Umuganda)Esperance vs APR (Mumena)Defending champions Rayon Sports play away to old rivals SC Kiyovu in the first derby of the 2013/14 Turbo King Football League on Saturday at Amahoro national stadium. Kick off is 3:30pm.The Blues go into today’s match without two of their key men; skipper Fuadi Ndayisenga, who was sent off on the opening weekend game against Gicumbi and central defender Faustin Usengimana who is out of the season due to injury.However, coach Didier Gomes da Rosa is optimistic his side can still secure maximum points from their traditional enemies when the two sides go head to head.The Frenchman, who is starting his first full season in charge with Rayon Sports, is focused on helping the Nyanza-based team retain the league title.He says his boys have showed remarkable “mental strength and right attitude” and can get the job done against the Gilbert ‘Yaounde’ Kanyankole’s side in a match a fixture that used to be the biggest in the country in the early 90s before APR came onto the scene.Since 1995, a new rivalry emerged between Rayon Sports and APR, with the later going on to win a record 13 league titles compared to five for the former during that period. Kiyovu’s last of their three league titles came in 1993.“I have very good players. They are thirsty for success and I like the spirit and attitude they have exhibited both in training and against Gicumbi in the opening match,” Gomes told Saturday Sport on Thursday.He noted, “You get the feeling that they are committed. Even with key players out, I am positive that if we put in the kind of performance that we did against Gicumbi, then we have more chances of winning against Kiyovu.”Gomes hopes to get a solution for injured Usengimana in Abouba Sibomana and Iddi Nshimiyimana while the presence of Meddie Kagere, Papy Kamanzi, Frasson Jakeshi, Aphrodis Hategikimana and Cedric Amissi will be staked to destabilise the old giants.“SC Kiyovu is among the league favourites with very good new players, but we are determined because in case of a win, our opponents will be five points behind us after two matches,” added Gomes.Kanyankore’s SC Kiyovu, who were forced to a 1-all draw away to Musanze in the first match, will rely on new signings Christian Mbirizi and the Girukwishaka brothers (Jean and Michel) as they seek for their first win of the season.Kanyankole sounded positive after Thursday evening’s training session at Mumena, saying his side is well prepared for the derby clash.“It will be a tough game and a challenge for us but worth to watch for the fans because both teams have a reason to win. We want a win so is Rayon and trust that the best team will take the day,” stated the man who led Burundi’s Vital’O to their first Cecafa Kagame Cup title in July after beating APR in the final.Rayon Sports will be coming up against their former coach for the first time, who guided them to the semi-final of the Cecafa Kagame cup in Mwanza in 2005.Last season, Rayon Sports won all their four league matches against Kiyovu. While last month, both sides drew in a friendly match 2-2 before Rayon Sports whipped the Mumena-based team 3-0 to lift the Media Rwanda Football tourney.The Nyanza-based side is currently placed 5th on the log with three points, two points ahead of Kiyovu, who are in sixth position with one point.Other matchesIt will be a tough outing for Sam Ssimbwa’s Police FC, who will be looking for a win to maintain their good run when they visit Gicumbi FC in Gicumbi district.While Ssimbwa is seeking to make it two wins out of two, his counterpart Jean Baptiste Kayiranga will be eager to avoid a second straight loss after a 2-1 defeat to the champions last weekend.Peace Cup against Malaria winners, AS Kigali, who also had a perfect start to the season with a 2-0 win over Amagaju, face a stern test against Emmanuel Ruremesha’s Espoir FC in Rusizi.AS Muhanga, who started the season with a 0-4 home loss to Mukura Victory Sports, face Etincelles in Rubavu. Etincelles are boosted with a point secured from a goalless draw against Espoir on the opeing weekend.Sunday actionTables leaders APR FC will be looking to make two wins in a row when they take on new comers Esperance FC at Mumena stadium, kick off is 3pm. The 13-time league champions side opened the season with a 6-2 win over MarinesAnd German coach Andreas Spier and his boys would be hugely disappointed in case of failure to add another three points and in the process maintain their place at the top of the table standing.Second-placed Mukura visit Marine and would be favourite to make it two straight wins. Mukura players have been cautioned by their coach Cedric Kaze to keep the eye on the League title following their impressive 4-0 opening day win over AS Muhanga.The Huye-based side, which finished fourth last season, dominated the match in Muhanga as Kaze registered his first win against his counterpart Ali Bizimungu since joining Mukura last season.New signing Emmanuel Minani scored a brace, while Claude Nahimana and Noah Byimana scored the other two goals.However, the Burundian coach, Kaze stated that he will not underestimate any team as he seeks to make his team a genuine title contender.He said last week, “We are not in the league to follow others, we are in it to win. It is never easy for any other team apart from Rayon Sports and APR but we are determined to give them a run for their money.”He said Mukura is a big team that should be winning trophies. The Yellow and Black side has not won any silverware since 1994. The club which was founded in the early 1960s has never won the league title.However the team has four major trophies under its belt won from the Peace Cup (Rwanda Cup) in 1963, 1978, 1986, 1990 and 1992.