Tuesday

1/16th Round, First Leg

Esperance SK        1-4          Espoir FC

Vision FC                 0-3          APR FC

Pepiniere                0-1          Marines

Musanze FC           3-0          Isonga FC

APR FC coach Jimmy Mulisa has hailed the club’s youngsters after winning 3-0 in the first leg of Peace Cup against second division Vision FC on Tuesday at Mumena Stadium.

Playmaker Maxime Sekamana netted the opening goal in the 23^rd minute after a good cross from Onesme Twizerimana, who went on to score the second goal in the 34^th minute off the assist of youngster Eric Tuyishime, 18.

Experienced midfielder Djamar Mwiseneza, who has struggled to get on the starting lineup since returning from a career-threatening knee injury, scored his first goal of the season in the 88th minute off Tuyishime’s assist.

Mulisa was particularly impressed with the performances of the young players; Tuyishime, who exhibited maturity beyond his age with clever dribbling skills and passing accuracy as well as Fred Mucyo, 19 and Innocent Nshuti, 18.

"That was a good match especially for the younger players, who showed that they can do a good job when called upon. They showed really top character to win and I am happy for them,” Mulisa said after the match.

The former APR and Amavubi forward added, "We still have the second leg, which we will go into to win and I believe we will produce another good display.”

APR will host Vision FC in the second leg on April 25 to determine who proceeds to the round of 16.

In other matches, second division club Esperance SK lost 4-1 at the hands of topflight side Espoir FC 1-4, while national league bottom side Pepiniere lost to fellow strugglers Marines 0-1.

Musanze FC beat youthful Isonga FC from the second tier, 3-0.

The round of 16 will be played in May as well as the quarter final first leg matches while the second leg will be played in the first weekend of June as will the semi-finals. The final will be held on the traditional date, July 4.

Rayon Sports won last year’s title after they edged arch rivals APR FC 1-0 in the title match, which gave them the right to represent Rwanda in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup. Djuma Masudi’s team is already in the play-off round of Africa’s second biggest club competition.

The Peace Cup holders Rayon Sports host Rivers United of Nigeria in the return leg of the play-off round on Saturday at Amahoro National Stadium after losing the first leg 2-0 on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw