Today, 3pm
Semi-finals, first leg
AS Muhanga Vs Sorwathe
Pepiniere Vs Intare
After knocking out Vision JN in the quarter-finals last week, Pepiniere football club are confident they will send Intare FC packing and book themselves a spot in the final of the second division playoffs and a promotion ticket back to the topflight league at first attempt.
Relegated from the Azam Rwanda Premier League last season, Pepiniere FC face Intare FC this afternoon in the first-leg encounter of their semi-final tie at Ruyenzi grounds.
Pepiniere progressed to the last four after edging Rubavu-based Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle 2-1 on aggregate. The former premier league side advanced to the knock-out phase after finishing second in Group A with 47 points.
In an interview with Saturday Sport, Pepiniere FC coach Jean Paul Muhoza said that the team’s ambition is to earn promotion back to topflight football and will do all that it takes to make it happen, starting with a win against Intare today.
"We have prepared well for the two semi-final games and the players are fit for the mission,” Muhoza said on Friday.
In another first-leg clash of the semi-finals today, former Peace Cup finalists AS Muhanga host Sorwathe FC at Muhanga Stadium.
After today’s fixtures, the teams will meet again on June 16, in return-leg matches to determine who will be the two finalists who will also effectively book tickets to the topflight football in the 2018/2018 season.