Etoile de l'Est winger Claude Kamoso Harerimana is optimistic that his side can successfully secure a qualification back to the Rwanda Premier League next season.

The Ngoma-based club, who were relegated to the second division during the 2021/22 campaign, is primed for an imminent return to topflight football thanks to their impressive season in the second division.

The team set one foot to the semi-finals of the second division after thrashing Intare FC 4-1 in the first leg of the quarter finals held in Shyorongi on Sunday.

Kamoso, who has been with the team since their stint in the 2021/22 Premier League season, said that there is a room for optimism that they can go all they way to returning to the league his team ‘truly deserves.’

"The second League has not been easy at all. It is a top division but we sailed through to qualify for the play offs," Kamoso told Times Sport.

"Our target is to grab one of the two tickets back to the Premier League. We have quality in our team because most of us who played for the club that played the topflight league last season are still around. We belong to the first division league," he added.

The talented winger further reiterated that his team is looking to build on their impressive quarter final first leg playoff [against Intare] and there is no way they are going to turn back.

"In the quarter finals first leg, we thrashed Intare 4-1 at their ground. We will finish the job in Ngoma on April 16. That was the good start we wanted and we got it," he said.

Etoile and Gicumbi, who were both relegated from the Premier League last season, are among the teams who are in the playoffs vying for tickets to play top flight football next season.