ABDU Mbarushimana, the head coach of newly promoted AS Muhanga has warned that his side will come into the topflight football as a league title contender, not a participant.

The former Peace Cup finalists, AS Muhanga, along with Intare FC are the two sides that have earned promotion to Azam Rwanda Premier League for the 2018/2019 season after reaching the final of this year’s second division final.

Intare FC beat AS Muhanga 2-1 to win lift the title on July 4 at Amahoro stadium.

The Muhanga district-sponsored side return to topflight league two years after the club’s relegation to lower division 2016.

In an interview with Times Sport on Monday, AS Muhanga coach Mbarushimana revealed that the team’s ambition is not to pass time in the topflight league but rather to compete for the league title, but most importantly, to avoid getting relegated again.

"For me to get this team promoted to the first division is a dream come true, it is also exactly what I had promised the board at the beginning of the season,” Mbarushimana said.

"Now that we have achieved our target, we will go into the season full of confidence that we can actually do well in the national league. We don’t want to make numbers just but rather to be a force for many years,” he explained.

In a separate interview, the club president, Damascene Ndayisaba said, "We currently have a budget of Rwf45 million; 40 million from District and 5 million from club supporters. But in first division, we need at least 80 million to use in signing new players and running the club activities for the season,”

According to Ndayisaba, the budget will come from the club’s main sponsors, Muhanga District, who will contribute Rwf40m while the remaining Rwf40m will be raised from fans and partners.

AS Muhanga and IntareFC will replace, in the Azam Premier League, Miroplast and Gicumbi who were relegated at the end of the just concluded 2017/2018 regular season.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw