AS Kigali are 2013 Peace Cup champs

FinalAS Kigali 3-0 AS Muhanga The City of Kigali-sponsored AS Kigali FC have been crowned this year’s Peace Cup against Malaria champions after thrashing national league rivals AS Muhanga 3-0 in the final match played on Saturday. Two first half goals from Bodo Ndikumana in the second minute and Hamidu Ndayisaba in the 23rd minute plus Fidele Nduwimana’s strike five minutes into the second half ended AS Muhanga’s hopes infront of a very sparse crowd in the 25000-seater Amahoro stadium. Ali Bizimungu’s side, AS Muhanga dominated possession for larger parts of the game but with nothing to show for it in terms the end product. Chasing a first major silverware in the club’s history, Muhanga players created quite a good number of scoring opportunities but the lack of effectiveness cost them a place in Rwandan football history. AS Kigali, who came into the final as overwhelming favourites to win the second Peace Cup title in the club’s history, having won it back in 2001 as Les Citadins, scored early goals in each half to kill off any hopes of a comeback for their opponents. Just two minutes into the biggest ever match for either team, impressive midfielder Mouhamed Mushimiyima cleverly set up Ndikumana, who opened the floodgates for coach Andrew Gasambogo’s AS Kigali. AS Muhanga continued to dominate the match but were always prone to AS Kigali’s quick break counter attacks which resulted in all their three goals. On 23 minutes, skipper Jimmy Mbaraga crossed to former Isonga youngster Ndayisaba, who scored to make it 2-0. Five minutes into the second half, AS Kigali once again broke swiftly and Nduwimana scored a volley from about 30 yards to give his team an assailable 3-0 caution and the first title since 2001. AS Muhanga kept posing questions for AS Kigali defence and goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure had to be at his best to deny APR-bound striker Ernest Sugira on two separate occasions, in either half. On top of the trophy, AS Kigali received Rwf7m and will represent Rwanda in next year’s Caf-Confederation Cup, while AS Muhanga walked away with Rfw5m. APR and Bugesera each received Rfw2.25m. Meanwhile, on the same day, AS Kigali women team received officially the 2012-13 league trophy for the fifth year running.