June 18

1/16 RoundPolice FC vs Heroes or Rugende TCRayon Sports vs MiroplastIsonga FC vs Etoile de l’estAPR Fc vs United StarsSC Kiyovu vs Intare FCEspoir FC vs Gasabo UtdGicumbi FC vs PepiniereEtincelles FC vs Hope FCAS Kigali vs Vision JNMukura VS vs Vision FCMusanze FC vs La JeunesseSunrise FC vs SEC AcademyBugesera FC vs Kirehe FCAS Muhanga vs Esperance FCMarines vs Interforce FCAmagaju FC vs Rwamagana City

Last year’s finalists Rayon Sports are keen to make amends and win a third Peace Cup title since 1994 and ninth since 1976.

Djuma Masudi, who won the Peace Cup as a player in 2005, wants to lift the title as coach but the Blues must beat Second Division side Miroplast FC in the round of 16, which is scheduled for June 18.

Masudi is confident his troops have what it takes to make up for last year’s disappointment of losing to Police FC 1-0 in the final.

Following the draw for the round of 16 ties on Thursday, the former Burundi international forward said, "It’s going to be a tough game against our opponents, but we are not fazed by the challenge. I have to prepare the players for each round.”

Reigning champions Police FC will open their title defense, against the winner between Heroes FC and Rugende Training City, who will meet in a play-off match to determine who proceeds to the next round.

Topflight division giants APR FC, AS Kigali and Mukura VS have ‘weaker’ opposition in United Stars, Vision JN and Vision FC in the knock-out round.

The winners of the 1/16th round will proceed to the 1/8th round due on June 22 with eventual winners booking places in the quarter-final round which will be played on June 25.

The semi-final round will be played on a two-legged format on June 28 and July 1 with the winners proceeding to the final which will be played on June 4. The eventual winner will represent Rwanda in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw