2nd Division Final

SundaySunrise 2-1 Isonga

Second division football league champions Sunrise FC are eager to avoid problems most promoted teams face in their debut season in the top flight.

The Rwamagana-based side were crowned champions of the second division on Sunday after beating Isonga FC 2-1 in the final thanks to goals from Djabir Irankunda and Jean d’amour Bonane.

Both finalists, Sunrise and Isonga had already gained promotion to National Football League after seeing-off Bugesera and SEC Academy respectively in the semi-finals.

"We are very happy that the title has gone to Eastern Province, it’s a dedication to the people of Rwamagana, who supported the team throughout the season,” Sunrise head coach Moussa Gatera told this paper on Monday.

He noted that teams have been gaining promotion to topflight division and after one season they are relegated to the lower division again.

"So we have to do good business (in the transfer market) to avoid falling in the same trap, and I think we have learnt and drawn lessons from other teams,” he said.

Sunrise became the first team to represent the Eastern Province in the national league since Imirabyo FC in the mid 2000.

Sunrise and Isonga will replace Esperance and AS Muhanga, who were relegated from topflight league. Esperance, who won the second division title last season, are one of those teams that spent just a single season in the top tier division.