Quarter-finals (first-leg)

Today

Police         Vs    APR

Sunrise      Vs    Bugesera

Mukura     Vs    Amagaju

Saturday

Marines    Vs    Rayon

Return-leg

July 23

Bugesera    Vs    Sunrise

Amagaju    Vs    Mukura

July 24

Rayon          Vs     Marines

July 26

APR          Vs     Police  

ALBERT Joel Mphande, the head coach of Police FC, has challenged his players to be ‘aggressive and vigilant’ when they face APR this afternoon at Kicukiro Stadium in the first leg of the two sides’ quarter-finals tie in Peace Cup.

The law enforcers will be hoping to get the most out of the first-leg clash as they bid to end their trophy drought since clinching the 2015 Peace Cup title.

Police will go into the game with an underdog tag, especially since finishing the 2017/2018 national football league in sixth position with 48 points, an alarming 18 points behind champions APR to extended their record to 17 titles in just 24 years.

However, Police’s Zambian-born coach Mphande is optimistic his players have the quality and talent to overcome the military side – who on the other hand will be looking to recover from their disappointing performance at the 41st Cecafa Kagame Cup in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

"I believe we are capable of winning the title, we have what it takes. But that confidence will be tested on Friday (today) against APR, we have to be ready and prove to ourselves and our fans that there will be no stopping us,” a confident Mphande told Times Sport on Thursday.

He further admitted that, "I know it’s going to be a tough call, Peace Cup is a tournament that means a lot to every contender. However, I also know that there is nothing we (Police) cannot achieve if we focus, and execute our game plan.”

On their way to winning their first Peace Cup title three years ago, Police edged out APR in semi-finals before stunning Rayon Sports 1-0 in the final.

Eric Ngendahimana scored the lone goal to hand Police their first major title.

However, speaking to Times Sport in a separate interview, APR’s Serbian Coach Ljubomir Petrovic warned Police that his lads are fired up and keen on completing a double  after claiming the Azam Rwanda Premier League title last month.

"It is very fortunate that we are starting with first game”, the 72-year old tactician said.

The final of the Peace Cup tournament is scheduled for August 8 with winners earning the right to represent the country at the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw