Businessman Juvénal Mvukiyehe has announced the acquisition of second tier side Rugende FC for an undisclosed fee.

Mvukiyehe’s move to own a club comes after he was relieved of his duties to manage Kiyovu Sports Company Ltd, a business wing of top flight side Kiyovu SC which he also served as president between September 2020 and December 2022.

"We are very excited about this project and we have wasted no time in working towards building a strong team. We are trying to build a strong side which can compete at the highest level," Mvukiyehe said.

Club rebrands

Rugende FC will compete in the 2023/24 second division league with a new name. The club rebranded to Addax Sports Club after the sale agreement with former owner Walter Hunde Rubegesa was reached.

Mvukiyehe said that he will be in no rush of buying new players as he looks to keep the current players and the coaching staff apart from the imminent appointment of new club assistant coach Bokota Labama, a renowned former striker who enjoyed glorious stints at Rayon Sports and APR FC.

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"You never know the dynamics of football, things could probably change in a matter of hours, but for now we have no intention to buy other players."

Bokota will be working with club head coach Jean Louis Fils Ndemeye.

According to the new club owner, Rugende FC rebranded to Addax Sports Club to keep up with the times and to work more closely with its main partner.

Mvukiyehe becomes the latest prominent figure in Rwandan football to buy a football club, joining the likes of Charles Nkuriza Kakooza and Hadji Mudaheranwa who own Gasogi United and Gorilla FC respectively.