National football league champions Rayon Sports are planning to play pre-season friendly matches against top Tanzanian and Congolese sides, General Secretary Olivier Gakwaya told Times Sport.

According to Gakwaya, the seven-time league winners have contacted several teams in DRC and Tanzania’s giants Yanga and Simba SC, but nothing has been agreed yet.

"We are trying everything possible to get at least five pre-season matches ahead of new season (which starts in September),” he said.

He added: "The team needs adequate preparations as we bid to defend the league title but also to do well in other competitions including CAF Champions League, Cecafa-Kagame Cup as well as the Peace Cup next year.”

The Blues have been busy in the transfer window, bringing in seven new players and coach Didier Gomez Da Roza has indicated he wants to add a few more new faces to his squad.

The Nyanza-based club has already signed Djihad Bizimana (from Etincelles), Arafat Serugendo (Mukura), Claude Rwaka (La Jeunesse), Robert Ndatimana (Isonga) and Jean Luc Ndayishimiye Bakame (APR), as well as midfielder Jean Paul Havugarurema and left back Moses Kanamugire from La Jeunesse.