Etincelles Football Club has signed former Gicumbi coach Emmanuel Ruremesha as their new head coach to replace Innocent Seninga, who joined Police FC last week.

Ruremesha’s first task will be to guide the new team to a respectable position and going as far as possible in Peace Cup next season.

According to the president of the Rubavu-based club, Etienne Nsabimana, the former ATRACO FC and Mukura VS tactician has signed a two-year contract until the end of 2018.

"We have tasked him to guide the club to a respectable position and not only that, but we also want Etincelles to be competing for places in the top half of the table, and not fighting relegation every season,” Nsabimana said.

He added, "We believe he’s the right man and will help the team to do much better than the previous seasons. We are now turning our focus to signing new players and renewing the contract of some of the existing players.”

In the 2010/2011 season, the Western Province side raised eyebrows when they kept APR on their toes for most part of the league title race, only to finish in second place.

In 2011, Etincelles suffered a premature exit in the CAF Confederation Cup after a 1-3 preliminary round aggregates defeat against Congo Brazzaville’s Leopards. In the same year, they were eliminated in group stages of CECAFA Kagame Cup that was held in Khartoum, Sudan.

Ruremesha, 43, who joined Gicumbi FC from Rusizi-based Espoir in 2013, said, "It has been a tough season in Gicumbi, but now it’s a new chapter, a new challenge, a new environment and we have to work hard so that we can attain our targets.”

Last season, Gicumbi FC finished in 9th position with 34 points in 30 games, two points and one place above Etincelles.

Ruremesha helped Kibuye gain promotion to the national league in 2005-2006, season, before coaching different teams including Mukura (twice), Atraco, Rayon Sport, La Jeunesse, and Espoir FC.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw