Isonga FC has Rwf116m budget

Isonga Football Club has increased their budget from Rwf63m last season to Rwf116m for the upcoming season, the club’s Secretary General Sandra Muhimpundu confirmed to Sunday Sport.Isonga FC was founded last year as a composition of players, who played in the U-17 African Youth Championship and the Fifa World Cup. The team was promoted to the U-20 level.The youthful side used Rwf63m in the debut season in the Primus National Football League in which they finished in a respectable sixth position.However, the bulk of players, who played together for about three years, have been released to join other clubs, and the new-look Isonga team for this season will be made up of players from the currenU-17 team.According to Muhimpundu, the team’s main sponsors, the ministry of Sports and Culture has already dispatched an initial Rwf30m for the first part to the season.“We have already received the first part of the money to prepare for the start of the season, so I hope the team will do well,” said Muhimpundu. She added, “The reason for having a bigger budget as compared to last season is because we want to do better than we did in our first season by keeping the players in better conditions.” Muhimpundu also revealed that Inyange Industries will continue to co-sponsor the team this season despite the fact that both parties have reached a new agreement.“We have a slightly bigger budget to work with compared to most of the teams in the league, but our situation is unique since we take care of our players full time, most of whom are students for whom we pay their tuition and other necessities,” he explained.The biggest percentage of the money will go into paying school fees for the players, playing equipment, food and other things related requirements players needs since they are not paid monthly salary. The team has released players above 18 years; they were led out by skipper Emery Bayisenge, François Hakizimana, Michel Rusheshangoga, and Eric Nsabimana. Others are strikers Isaac Muganza, Jacques Cyubahiro, Farouk Saifi Ruhinda, Hamidu Ndayisaba, Steven Ntalibi, Marcel Nzarora and Hertier Turatsinze.Players, who played in the World Cup, were sold at Rwf2m each, while others who weren’t in Mexico but played in the AYC held in Kigali, went for Rwf1m each.APR signed four players (Bayisenge, Rusheshangoga, Eric Nsabimana and Ruhinda), who played in the World Cup at a combined fee of Rwf8m and three (Hakizimana, Muganza, Cyubahiro), who did not play in the 2011 U-17 World Cup, will cost them Rwf3m.AS Kigali will pay Rwf1m for Hamidu Ndayisaba, Rayon Sport Rwf2m for goalkeeper Marcel Nzarora while Isonga is still in negotiation with SC Kiyovu for Steven Ntalibi and Hertier Turatsinze, which will cost them Rwf4m as they were part of the team played in World Cup.The club retained several senior players, who from last season, including goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera, Eugene Habyarimana, Celestin Ndayishimiye, Pacifique Uwimana, Robert Ndatimana, Janvier Benedata, Abdoul Sibomana, Patrick Sibomana, Suleiman Kakira and Justin Mico.While promoted players from Under 17 for the upcoming season, include; Eric Rutanga, Fiston Buzizi, Bertrand, Iradukunda Cedric Iratwizihije , Innocent Gafishi from (APR Academy), Fidele Habinshuti from Dream Team, Yves Kimenyi from Imena Football Club, Pacifique Uwimana from Centre Huye, Latif Bishira, Anderson Neza, Jean D’amour Munyabuhoro, Hamuli Kalisa, Fabrice Kagirabana all from Sec Academy.Meanwhile, the club has a new committee led by Gregoire Muramira as chairman, Africa Ramba (1st vice chairman), Christian Saidot (2nd vice chairman in charge of technical) and the Secretary General is Sandra Muhimpundu.Vincent Mashami will be the head coach, goalkeeping coach is Calliope Kabalisa, Emery Kamanzi (team manager), Patrick Rutamu (team doctor) and Eric Tuyisenge is the kit manager.