Saturday

Semi-FinalsPlay4Hope 0-0 Kayonza (Pen 1-4)Gatsibo 2-0 Top Guys

Quarter-FinalsTop Guys 1-0 UmurabyoPlay4Hope 1-0 RusiziGatsibo 3-1 BigogweKayonza 1-1 Rubavu (Pen 4-2)

EASTERN PROVINCE teams, Kayonza and Gatsibo, will meet in the final of the boys’ Airtel Rising Stars U-17 championship after beating City of Kigali opponents in the semi-finals on Saturday at Ferwafa Grounds.

Kayonza Football Training Center beat Kigali’s Play4Hope Academy 4-1 on shootouts after regular match time ended in a goalless draw. Play4Hope dominated the game in normal time and had several good goal-scoring opportunities but Kayonza’s goalkeeper Hassan Mudage stood firm to deny them with a couple of fine saves.  He also saved one of the shootouts.

In the second semi-final, Gatsibo Academy beat last year’s second runners-up Top Guys 2-0 thanks to goals from Fiston Ishimwe early on in the first half, and Edison Kamanzi, who netted a penalty in stoppage time.

Sixteen-year old Ishimwe, one of the outstanding players Saturday told Times Sport after the match, "I’m happy for the victory, this was a tough game for us. In the girls’ category, the quarter-final and semi-finals matches were due to be played yesterday at Kicukiro Grounds. The finals in both genders are scheduled for the weekend of August 1-3.