IT’s a new season with a new style, something never seen in Rwanda before. For local football fans, all roads this afternoon will lead to Bralirwa premises in Kicukiro for the 2010/11 national league pre-kickoff get-together party for all stakeholders in Rwandan football.

The function, the first of its kind has been organized by the national football federation (Ferwafa) and league sponsors, Bralirwa through their Primus brand. It comes two days before the official start of the new season scheduled to kick off on Sunday, October 17.

The party aimed at ‘toasting to the official start of a new season under Bralirwa’s three-year sponsorship’, will start at 3.00 pm.

"We don’t want to just put in money and step aside, that’s why we are getting involved from the start through this party. But most importantly, we want to involve the fans as much as we can,” Bralirwa’s Commercial Director, Alexander Koch told Times Sport by phone yesterday.

The occasion will also be used to discuss at length how best to improve the league. Bralirwa have injected Rwf120million for the 2010/11 season as part of their three-year Rwf335m package.

But most importantly, all 12 Primus National League teams will be expected to use the function to showcase their plans and expectations for the season.

Bralirwa has also offered support amounting to Rwf35m as direct grants to the 12 top flight teams.

"Bralirwa as per its commitment to the league sponsorship is looking at ways of making the league even more exciting by developing a more elaborate sponsorship mechanism meant to engage the fans and fan clubs in a way that has never been done before,” added Koch.

On their part, Ferwafa view the three-year partnership with Bralirwa as a key cornerstone in the development of football in the country.

"With Rwf120m committed by Bralirwa in this season alone, of which 50 percent will go directly towards supporting the 12 (participating) teams and to stage a more competitive season, we (Ferwafa) are positive that the new season starts with a lot of optimism”, noted the federation’s Chief Executive Officer, Jules Kalisa.

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