Newly promoted Bugesera FC have set themselves a target to be a permanent fixture in the National Football League.

Formed in 1984, Bugesera first qualified for first division in 2006. However, after promotion, Rwamagana district took charge of the team from Bugesera district and renamed it Umurabyo FC, but the team spent just one season in the first division before they were relegated.

The following year, Bugesera district took over the team again and turned to it’s original name (Bugesera FC), and once again started playing in the second division.

In 2013, the team reached the semi-finals of Peace Cup, losing to AS Muhanga.

Bugesera’s leading scorer that season, Michelle Ndahinduka with 24 goals, was recruited by APR FC after making history as the first player to earn call-up to the national team while playing in the local second division.

In 2014, Bugesera FC were eliminated at the semi-finals stage of the second division play-off on a 3-2 aggregate score by Sunrise FC, also from the Eastern Province.

In an interview with the Times Sport, Bugesera FC head coach Noah Nsaziyinka revealed that the team’s ambition is to finish as high as possible on the table.

Nsaziyinka said, "For me to get this team promoted to the first division is a dream come true because it’s what I had promised to the board.”

"And now that we have achieved our target, we will go into the season full of confidence that we can actually do well in the national league. We don’t want to make numbers just but rather to be a force for many years,” he explained. Meanwhile, the club has assured their fans that they will strengthen the team.

"We currently have a budget of Rwf100 million to use in signing new players and running the club activities for the season,” revealed Technical Director, Evariste Niyibizi.

According to Niyibizi, the money will come from the club’s main sponsors, Bugesera District, who will contribute Rwf60m while the Rwf40m will be raised by fans.

Bugesera were promoted along with fellow second division finalists, Rwamagana FC and for the first time in the history of Rwandan football, the Eastern Province will have three teams in the topflight division league—the other being Sunrise FC, who were promoted last season and finished fourth in the league.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw