Pre-season form rarely tells the full story of how a team will perform when the real business begins. But for SC Kiyovu and their loyal fans in Nyamirambo, across Rwanda and beyond, winning a trophy is all that matters for now. How the rest of the season unfolds is, at least for the moment, almost irrelevant. Kiyovu will start the new campaign with renewed confidence, belief and, perhaps, greater ambition. They may not be realistic title contenders, but their supporters can look forward to the new season, which begins on Friday, September 4, with considerably more optimism than they would have had without the FERWAFA Super Cup. For Kiyovu and their long-suffering supporters, the Super Cup was about much more than 90 minutes of football. It was about memory, identity and, perhaps most importantly, hope. When Hakim Hamiss produced that spectacular bicycle kick in the 84th minute to beat Police FC 1-0 at Kigali Pelé Stadium, the reaction said everything. Players ran towards the supporters, officials celebrated, and from the stands came the chant: “Merci Kiyovu, Merci.” For a club that has endured years of disappointment, such moments matter. I am writing from afar, but I am reliably informed that Biryogo never went to sleep on Sunday night. Kiyovu had waited 32 years for a major trophy, having last tasted significant silverware in 1993. Yes, there was the Made in Rwanda Cup triumph over Rayon Sports in 2022, but major trophies have been painfully scarce for one of Rwanda’s historic football institutions. That is why this Super Cup should not be dismissed as merely another pre-season trophy. It has given Kiyovu something that has been missing for years: belief. Football clubs are built as much on confidence as they are on tactics, recruitment and finances. Winning breeds confidence and expectation. Expectation can change how players approach matches, how supporters view their team and, crucially, how opponents perceive them. Kiyovu will open their 2026/27 league campaign against Gorilla FC at Kigali Pelé Stadium as trophy winners rather than simply another club hoping to put together a good season. That psychological difference should not be underestimated. Hamiss, who had only recently been cleared to play following the dispute surrounding his transfer from city rivals Gasogi United, became the unlikely hero. His spectacular finish provided the kind of footballing moment supporters remember and talk about for years. For the Green Baggies faithful, particularly those in Nyamirambo and elsewhere across Rwanda, the goal was more than a winning strike. It was a reminder of what supporting Kiyovu can feel like when things finally go right. Should we take Kiyovu seriously? Here comes the difficult question: should we now take Kiyovu seriously? The answer is yes — but with a large dose of caution. The Super Cup victory proves that Kiyovu can compete. It does not, however, prove that they can sustain that level over an entire league campaign. Beating Mukura and Police FC is one thing. Facing 17 different opponents over a 34-match league marathon is another. A one-off match, however important, is very different from the relentless demands of a top-flight season. Injuries, squad depth, consistency, pressure and the ability to win ugly on difficult afternoons will ultimately determine whether Kiyovu have genuinely turned a corner. There is also the awkward truth that APR FC were not there. Who knows whether Kiyovu would have beaten the defending champions in a semi-final or final? We will never know. The record 24-time league champions withdrew from this year’s Super Cup following an organisational dispute with FERWAFA, leaving Mukura, Rayon Sports, Police FC and Kiyovu to battle for the trophy and Rwf40 million winner’s prize. APR’s absence undoubtedly changed the complexion of the tournament. The remaining teams had a genuine opportunity to win the trophy, and Kiyovu grabbed theirs with both hands. But that should not diminish what Mark Harrison’s side achieved. Trophies do not come easily simply because one of the favourites is missing. Kiyovu were there, they competed and they won. As we say in football, you can only beat what is in front of you. And Kiyovu did exactly that. The Super Cup could prove important beyond the trophy cabinet. Kiyovu also pocketed Rwf40 million, a significant financial boost for a club operating with limited income streams. Pre-season form rarely tells the whole story. Neither does one match. But winning something before the serious business begins can transform the mood around a football club. It can lift a dressing room, reconnect supporters with their team and create expectations that were previously absent. Perhaps Kiyovu’s ambitions should now be adjusted. They may not be realistic title contenders — at least not yet. Their supporters would be wise not to mistake one spectacular evening for the arrival of a dominant team. But they can demand a little more. They can expect Kiyovu to compete harder, believe more and refuse to settle for mediocrity. For now, perhaps that is enough. After years of waiting, Kiyovu supporters finally have a trophy to celebrate. They have a bicycle kick to remember, a new season to anticipate and, most importantly, a reason to believe again. The challenge for the Nyamirambo-based club is no longer simply winning one trophy. It is proving that this was the beginning of a revival rather than just one glorious afternoon in the club’s long history. For now, though, let the Green Baggies enjoy it. They have waited long enough. And who knows when the next trophy will come? Hopefully, it will not take another 30 years.
