Defending champions APR Fc booked their place in the round of 16 after overcoming 10-man second division side Sunrise 4-0 at Stade de Kigali in the preliminary round of the Peace Cup knockout competition on Saturday.

The military side took the lead in the 20th minute when midfielder Jean Claude Iranzi converted a well taken penalty.

Fifteen minutes later, striker Barnabe Mubumbyi headed home a second and the champions took a two-goal lead into recess.

The lead was extended after the break through midfielder Maxime Sekamana before Hegman Ngoma completed the rout in style with a superb fourth goal.

APR, who have won the annual competition a record seven times, will know their opponent in the next round after the preliminary round which ends today.

However, it was not good news for last year's runners-up Police FC as they got knocked out of the competition by Primus National Football League rivals AS Muhanga 3-1 on penalties at Mumena grounds after a goalless draw in normal time.

Meddie Kagere squandered several scoring chances that would have helped the Cops side win the game in normal time, and he even went on to miss his penalty kick. Former APR striker Ernest Kwizera also missed a penalty.

Another Primus league side La Jeunesse was also ejected from the competition by a Second Division side Pepiniere 5-3 on penalties shootout at Kicukiro. Normal time ended goalless.

Action continues today with nine matches to be played across the country. The winner of the competition will represent Rwanda in the 2014 Caf Confederation Cup.