Isonga plot quick return to first division

Isonga FC Secretary General Sandra Muhimpundu has high hopes that the relegated club will make a quick return to the top flight division.The team was relegated in second division this season and the club plans to release all players and make new recruits, who are Under 17 years of age.“We are now building the team which can compete on high level once again, even if we plan to release the entire squad, we have high hopes for a quick comeback next year,” she told Times Sport in an exclusive interview recently.“The players should be commended for putting up a tough fight throughout the season although it wasn’t enough to save the team from relegation to the second division. We were not consistent enough but next season that will be one of our main target,” she added.Good dealThe Isonga management has urged teams that may be interested in any of the players to put it in writing so that they can be given what the club is describing as a “good deal”.“We are calling on all teams, who may be interested in our players to write to us so that we can start discussions and the players, who will not get new teams, we will use them in second division,” Muhimpundu explained.“We still have contract with our players so every team will negotiate with us before having the signature of the players but we will not stop any player to join the team they want.”The club, which forms the core part of the U-17 national team, will start the process to find new players from local academies and talent detection centres to replace the current squad.Ministry of Sport and Culture and Inyange will continue to sponsor the team and Isonga management is looking for other sponsors before the starting of the second division league.He noted that the Ministry of Sport and Culture will continue to help the team and Inyange also will continue to play its role and they are looking for other sponsors so that they can build a strong team which will come back for the first division and stay there (forever).Recently the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Sports and Culture, Edward Kalisa revealed that Isonga will remain as it was before relegation. He said, “Isonga will remain as Isonga and the idea is to bring through young players and train them for the future.”“The plan will remain the same for this team, to continue to give chance to young players, who are the future of the country,” he added. No changes in technical staff Isonga FC was founded two years ago 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 and registered to play in the national league without going through the second divisionIsonga finished in sixth position in its debut season in the 2011/12 season but failed to maintain that impressive form in the just-concluded 2012/13 season, which saw them relegated to the second-tier league.The former La Jeunesse FC coach Yves Rwasamanzi will continue to lead the team with his assistant coach Innocent Seninga and Alex Mugabo goalkeeper’s coach. Amavubi Stars team doctor Assouman Nuhu will continue to be the team physician, while Longin Habineza is the team manager.Players that the club plans to ship out include; Celestin Ndayishimiye, Abdul Sibomana, Justin Mico, Bertrand Iradukunda, Eugene Habyarimana, Shadad Nsendayire, Ratif Bishira, Patrick Sibomana, Yves Rwigema, D’Amour Munyabuhoro, Anderson Neza.Others are; Robert Ndatimana, Kevin Ishimwe, Yves Kimenyi, Moise Jules Niyigena, Fiston Nkizingabo, Eric Rutanga, Sulaiman Kakira, Steven Ntalibi, Eric Muhanuka, Fabrice Kagirabana, Amur Kalisa, Pacifique Uwimana, Janvier Benedata, Olivier Kwizera and Abdoul Rwatubyaye.