Sports

2012/13 Football League

Sept. 22
APR vs Marines
Police vs La Jeunesse
Etincelles vs Muhanga

Sept. 23
Rayon Sport vs Amagaju
SC Kiyovu vs Espoir
Isonga vs Musanze
Mukura vs AS Kigali

DEFENDING champions APR kick off the 2012/13 National Football league against Marines FC at Stade de Kigali on September 22 according to the new season fixtures released on Sunday.

APR, who won their 13th league title since 1995, will for the fourth year running represent Rwanda in next year’s Orange Champions League.

The military side has already recruited Eric Nshimiyimana as their head coach and new players like Hamdan, Imran Nshimiyimana, Tumaine Ntamuhanga, among others.

Police, who finished second to APR last season and will represent the country in next year’s Orange Confederation Cup, will open the league campaign with La Jeunesse.

Rayon Sport start the league against Amagaju at their new home in Nyanza on September 23, while SC Kiyovu will begin their campaign with a date against Espoir; AS Kigali play away to Mukura while Isonga host Musanze.

Next season’s league will be comprised of 14 teams despite the recent withdrawal of Nyanza FC after their sponsors, Nyanza District, opted to take charge of Rayon Sport, who have, as a result, relocated from Kigali to Nyanza town, their original home.

Consequently, Espoir, who were relegated at the end of last season, will return to the top flight division and take Nyanza’s place.

In a related development, Ferwafa’s marketing manager Richard Gahonzire has confirmed that the local football governing body hopes to seal a new sponsorship deal with beer and soft drink makers, Bralirwa, before the end of this week.

He said, “We are in talks with Bralirwa. We are optimistic that before the end of this week, we will have come to a decisive agreement.”

According to Gahonzire, Bralirwa will take 60 per cent sponsorship with 40 per cent set to be awarded to another sponsor.

Three years ago, Bralirwa sunk Rwf335m in the national league which led to the league being renamed Primus National Football League, which ran out in July.

The partnership covered the remaining part of 2009/2010 National Football League and the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons. Each year’s league was followed by a Primus Cup tournament.

Recently, Bralirwa’s Marketing Manager Elvis Castanou said he hoped a deal would be reached before the start of the new season.

The football governing body is also trying to bring on board other potential sponsors, among them, the Pan-African sports pay TV, Supersport. The South African based pay TV is already in league partnership with Rwanda’s neighbours Kenya and Uganda.

Contact email: bonnie.mugabe[at]newtimes.co.rw