Fixtures (Jan.27th)

Aspor vs  Atraco
Espoir vs  Mukura
Zebres vs  APR
Nyanza vs  Kiyovu
Stella Maris     vs  Electrogaz
Intare  vs  Amagaju
Interforce vs  Marines
Sorwathe          vs  AS Kigali
Union               vs  Etincelles
Etoile de l’Est  vs  Musanze
Pepiniere          vs  Kibuye
ISAE                vs  Muhanga
La Jeunesse    vs  UNR

CHAMPIONS Atraco will open the defence of their MTN Peace Cup next Wednesday against second division side Aspor at Regional stadium in Nyamirambo.

The taxi men side won the trophy for the first time last year after a narrow 1-0 win over Mukura at Amahoro stadium.

Last year’s semi-finalists APR were also given a relatively easy draw against second division side Zebres, though the military side will have to contend playing on a heavy pitch during the first leg.

Meanwhile Rayon Sport and Police have already qualified for the last eight after league two sides Gisovu and Aspej dropped out due to financial reasons.

Meanwhile, Bonnie Mugabe reports that the competition’s tardy start is down to the delay in processing the sponsorship funds.

"Initially, the Cup was supposed to kick off on January 15 but we were forced to push it forward because we had not yet secured money to run the competition,” Ferwafa’s commissioner in charge of competition, Bonny Nsabimana said.

For the third year running, MTN Rwanda will sponsor the Peace Cup whose winner gets to represent the country at Caf’s Confederation Cup.

Like last year, the telecommunications giant has sponsored the event to a tune of Rwf 50m.In 2009,  the package saw clubs competing for a total prize money of Rwf23m with the winner (Atraco) pocketing Rwf10m, Rwf5m more than what APR bagged in 2008 when they won the competition.

Ends