Rwanda international Ernest Sugira has been released by Congolese side AS Vita Club with immediate effect. The 26-year-old joined the DR Congo side last year from AS Kigali.

The former AS Muhanga and APR forward was signed for a reported $130,000 (about Rwf102.7m) transfer fee and has been earning Rwf4 million per month, but failed to impress for his first season where he played 14 games in all competitions scoring 8 goals.

"It’s true I have been released by Vita Club, and I am free to join any club now. It was a pleasure to work with coach Florent Ibenge, who gave me the opportunity to play for him at a big club, but now I look forward to starting a new chapter elsewhere,” Sugira told Saturday Sport on Friday.

Sugira disclosed that he has already been contacted by several teams in the region but declined to give further details preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.

He began his career as a midfielder at second division side AS Muhanga leading to the Peace Cup final in 2013 but lost 3-1 against AS Kigali. A year later, he signed for APR winning a league and cup double before being released to join AS Kigali in 2015.

Sugira made his international debut at the age of 22 against Benin in September 2013 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match.

He featured prominently in the 2016 African Nations Championships in Rwanda and scored 3 goals in 4 matches as the hosts reached the quarter-finals and was the only Amavubi player named in the team of the tournament.

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