Quarter-final fixtures (Saturday): APR FC vs SC Kiyovu 3:30AS Muhanga vs EspoirAmagaju FC vs AS KigaliRayon Sports vs Gicumbi FC 6pm With the defending champions Police FC already out of contention, it leaves the race for the Peace Cup title among the usual suspects namely; APR, Rayon Sports, SC Kiyovu and AS Kigali. But which of the four teams or the other in the last eight round; is likely to replace Police FC as Peace Cup champions and get a place in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup? Here is a look at the eight quarter-finalists and their chances of winning Rwanda’s second biggest football competition. AS Kigali: The City of Kigali-sponsored side will face an in-form Amagaju FC, needing to win and proceed to the semi-finals, and if they can go all the way and win the title, it will be the greatest sporting achievement in the club’s history. However, their road to the final looks a tricky one as Eric Nshimimiyimana’s team would have to overcome either Rayon Sports or Gicumbi FC in the last four. You doubt Nshimiyimana would like to face Rayon Sports before the final. Amagaju: Regardless of how highly Amagaju FC head coach Abdu ‘Beken’ Bizimana rates his team, one doubts if the Nyamagabe-based club can reach the finals. If they do, it will be a historic record, no matter whether they win the title or not. The Southern Province outfit reached the quarter-finals at the expense of defending champions, Police FC after a 7-6 win in post-match sport kicks following a goalless draw in normal time. Rayon Sports: If Rayon Sports, beaten finalists last season, somehow manage to claw their way out of the quarter-finals and reach the finals, they have a good chance to win the trophy. Only God knows how much their fans would celebrate. But first, they will have to beat Gicumbi FC, a team they have met twice in the league, drawing once (1-1) before winning 2-0 in the second round. Coach Djuma Masudi and his side can thrive against any opponent. The Blues earned a 2-1 win over Marines FC at Kigali Regional Stadium in midweek in the last round courtesy of a double from Burundian import Pierro Kwizera to reach the quarter-finals. AS Muhanga: With relegation to the second division already guaranteed, winning the Peace Cup will be a miracle. So just imagine how heart-warming it would be to see an Instagram, or Facebook feed filled with shirtless selfies of Bogota Labama and coach Abdul Mbarushimana lifting the title. Last in the league table, having lost 18 league games so far, one wonders if they can beat their next opponents Espoir FC in the last eight to reach the semis or in any case lift the trophy, but in football anything is possible. No team has ever won the Peace Cup after being relegated to the second division. May be AS Muhanga can be the first, you never know! They beat second division side Isonga FC 2-0 in the last round. Espoir FC: To start with, there is no way Espoir FC will win the league ….but just imagine if they did win the Peace Cup. That would represent the biggest achievement in the club’s history, and not only that, but also for Rusizi district region at large. Alphonse Gatera’s team must first overcome the AS Muhanga hurdle in the quarter-final, which will be rewarded with a semi-final clash against the winner between APR FC and SC Kiyovu. Gicumbi FC: Having registered a shock win 2-1 over high-flying Mukura Victory Sports in the last round, I can only say that Emmanuel Ruremesha’s team have a daunting task at hand to overcome in-form Rayon Sports, for a place in the semi-final. Kiyovu: They have never won the Peace Cup in the post 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and have to first beat their boggy opponents, APR in quarter-finals for a dream semi-final clash against the victor of the AS Muhanga vs Espoir tie. Yves Rwasamanzi’s SC Kiyovu reached the last eight after seeing off fellow national league side Sunrise FC 1-0, thanks to a late penalty scored by former Rwandan international striker Andre Lomami. APR FC: Bookmakers and football pundits are tipping the military side not only to win their quarter-final clash against rivals SC Kiyovu, to reach the last four, but also to go all way to the final and eventually take the trophy. With the league title, already within sight, as they need three more points from their last league fixture against AS Kigali, APR appear to be way to strong for the rest of their rivals. In the last round, they had to come from behind at half time to beat Bugesera FC 2-1, which, with all their experience at winning trophies over the years, can only be a motivation to avoid any form of complacency and do better in the next match. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
