Semi-finals (first-leg) Wednesday Rayon Vs AS Kigali Thursday Police Vs Kiyovu AFTER helping his team to book a place in the semi-finals of the Peace Cup, Rayon Sports assistant coach Wagner do Nascimento Silvahas has rallied his team, urging them to stay focused as they attempt to win a historic Double this season following their league triumph. Rayon Sports take on AS Kigali in one of the semi-finals of the 2019 Peace Cup on Wednesday, before the 2015 winners Police FC play against SC Kiyovu. The winners of the two-legged fixtures will meet in the final on July 4. “It is great to win the league but it would be even better if we can win the Peace Cup as well,” he said. This is the second time Rayon and AS Kigali are meeting in the tournament, with the former having won 4-2 on penalties during the group stage. AS Kigali progressed to the last 16 as one of the best six losers. “Our target is to win a Double this season. We know it is very hard and need to improve in every aspect, semi-finals are different from quarterfinals, but that’s our target. There is no room for complacency.” he added. Silvahas is standing in for Rayon Sports’ head coach Roberto Oliveira Gonçalves do Carmo, who is on holiday in his native Brazil. The Blues progressed to the last four with an emphatic 9-1 win over Camarade Banamwana’s Gicumbi, having won the first-leg 7-1 in Kigali. Alain Kirasa’s SC Kiyovu stormed the semi-finals after overcoming Intare 5-2 in the quarter-finals despite the two sides playing out a 2-all draw in the return-leg. AS Kigali and Police reached the last four after eliminating Gasogi United and Etincelles, respectively, on Saturday. Winners of the Peace Cup will represent Rwanda in the CAF Confederation Cup next season. However, if Rayon win it, it is the already-eliminated APR who’ll take up the CAF Confederation Cup spot because they finished the first runners-up in the league. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
