•Blues stand in way of Atraco’s treble dream

MTN Peace Cup
Today
Semi-finals, 2nd leg
Rayon Sport vs Atraco

Amahoro National Stadium, Six-time winners Rayon Sport face last year’s losing finalist Atraco in a tricky second leg tie of the MTN Peace Cup this afternoon at Amahoro stadium.

Rayon were beaten 2-1 in the first leg played last Monday, and now they face a huge task of recording a win over on-form 2009 Kagame/Cecafa Cup winners.

This is their only chance to win some silverware this season, and it’s also their last opportunity to deny Atraco a historic treble.

Looking for their first silverware since the 2005 Amahoro Cup, now MTN Peace Cup, the Blues go into today’s match with a relaxed and confident mood following their 5-0 drubbing of Kibuye in the league match played on Thursday.

Coach Jean Baptista Kayiranga admits his players will have to perform better than they did in the first leg if hi team is to reach the final of the lucrative Peace Cup whose winner represents the country in the African Confederation Cup.

"We have worked on the mistakes which led to the two goals we gave away in the first leg and since then the players have gained momentum.

They’re ready to perform better in tomorrow’s (today) game,” Kayiranga said.

The 2005 winners will be without their influential defender Marcel Lomami who’s suspended for the match.

The Atraco camp is only cautious that a slight mistake would erase their treble dream. Assistant coach Emmanuel Ruremesha said that the players are fit (physically) but they need psychological guidance to help them stay focused on the challenge ahead.

"We have no injury worries in our camp and everyone is well set for the match on Sunday,” noted Sam Timbe’s right-hand man.

"We have to maintain our midfield intact to stop Rayon Sport from playing,” Ruremesha said on their strategy for such a big game, which they only need to avoid defeat to reach a third successive final.

Timbe’s side need to win the remaining two matches in the MTN Peace Cup, which includes today’s semifinal second leg and the final, and one league tie against Marines to record a treble of trophies this season.

The taxi-men team has already won the 2009 Cecafa/Kagame Club Championship held in Khartoum, Sudan early this month.

The next semi-final match where Mukura hosts defending champion APR will be played tomorrow in Huye, Southern Province.

All the semi-finalists are battling the total prize money of Rwf23 millions with the winner walking away with Rwf10m as cash prize on top of the trophy. The second, third and fourth clubs will pocket Rwf 7m, Rwf 4m and Rwf 2.5m respectively.

Ends