After suffering relegation for the first time in their 53-year history but miraculously returned to the topflight division without kicking a ball in the second division, SC Kiyovu are looking forward to better fortunes this time round and have devised a wide range of measures to avoid a repeat of last season’s troubles.

The team made a surprise return to Azam Rwanda Premier League after Isonga FC, which had been promoted from the second tier of Rwanda football, rejected the opportunity to rejoin the top league, saying its mission is to nurture young local talent.

Isonga said it would therefore not deliver on its mission if it were to play in the Azam Rwanda Premier League – once again.

SC Kiyovu are now saying they are not only determined to avoid relegation but to challenge for trophies as well.

The Mumena-based side say they have set themselves a target of finishing in the top four this season, as well as winning the Peace Cup.

But they have also rolled out a range of strategies to turn around the team’s fortunes.

Kiyovu are now under new head coach Andre Casa Mbungo, whom the club stalwarts have promised all the necessary support to make his reign a success.

SC Kiyovu, one of Rwanda’s oldest football clubs, have assembled a decent squad, which they think can lead them to their new ambitions.

Last week, the club installed a new executive committee headed by Jean Pierre Kayumba, with Eugene Semigabo serving as first vice president, while Francois Mvuyekure is the second vice president.

Rachid Habimana is the secretary-general, Hector Mutijima the treasurer, former secretary-general Omar Munyengabe is new technical director, while Theodore Ntarindwa was elected as the head of competition/media and communication.

Financing

According to Habimana, head coach Mbungo has been tasked with winning the Peace Cup on top of finishing in the top four.

The ‘green baggies’ finished second bottom on the 16-team league table last season and will have to make major improvement on the pitch and off it if they’re to avoid similar struggles and achieve their new goals.

"He has been tasked with winning the Peace Cup and finishing in the top four in the league. Kiyovu have to change for good and we believe we’re in a good position to build a competitive team here,” Habimana said.

He added: "Casa is one of the top coaches in the country and our long-term target with him is to build a strong side that’s capable of finishing as high as possible in the league this season and then we plan for the next season.”

"We have a new executive committee in place, which has to put in place structures to help build a strong team that can challenge for trophies. Kiyovu are a big club that must be challenging at the top end of the league table,” he said.

One of the measures devised to reach their ambitions is to generate funds to sustain the team. One must pay Rwf120,000 annually to be recognised as an official club member. By press time, 62 people had already paid the fee.

The club has approved a budget of Rwf230 million for the 2017/18 season.

Of that, Rwf60 million is expected to come from their sponsors (Nyarugenge District) which will be disbursed in monthly installments of Rwf5 million each.

According to Habimana, so far, local supporters have contributed about Rwf7 million in just three months, while those living outside of Rwanda have raised Rwf8 million.

"Our fans are willing to make their contribution so that we can be able to pay the players and coaches’ salaries and bonuses on time, something that has been our biggest problem previously.

"We haven’t been doing proper planning and that has greatly affected the team on and off the field, but now we have to start afresh and plan properly. We’re looking at mobilisation for funds as the way to go if Kiyovu are become genuine title challengers,” he said.Teamwork

Meanwhile, the head of competitions, Ntarindwa, admitted: "It’s a pity that we’ve lost the ground in the last few years, but we have learnt our lesson the hard way and hope that things will only get better.”

"In the past, we made a mistake of not working together as one family, it is our failure and we have to apologise to our fans for what happened last season,” he noted.

Ntarindwa added: "Previously we were working as if we did not belong to one team but now we are together and we believe that we will be able to achieve better things going forward. We have to learn lessons from what happen in the last couple of years.”

In their 53 years of playing in the topflight division, SC Kiyovu have won the league title on three occasions – in 1983, 1992 and 1993. They also won the Coupe du Rwanda (Rwanda Cup) twice – in 1975 and 1985.

The last time SC Kiyovu won a trophy was in 2011 when they claimed the Primus Cup, a pre-season tournament, under the Jean Marie Ntagwabira (RIP).

As part of preparations for the new season, SC Kiyovu have strengthened their squad with several new signings, including Ugandan striker Benson Rahim Ociti, from Kenyan side Chemelil Sugar FC; as well as midfielder Janvier Bonane and defender Aime Placide Uwineza, both from second division outfit Isonga FC.

Others include midfielder Jean Pierre Maombi, from Musanze FC; experienced midfielder Fabrice Mugheni, from Rayon Sports; Espoir FC’s centre-back Ally Mbogo, Rwanda international Innocent ‘Di Maria’ Habyarimana as well as right-back Jean Paul Uwihoreye from Police FC.

They also signed Rwanda international Jean Claude Ndoli (goalkeeper) as a free agent from AS Kigali and are still waiting for paperwork to complete the signing of Amavubi midfielder Rachid Kalisa.

The club released more than half of players from last season’s squad, including former Amavubi forward Andre Lomami and centre-back Mukamba Namasombwa.

They retained just 11 players, among them team captain Alexis Ngirimana and the young quartet of Jean Claude Nizeyimana, Djuma Nizeyima, Mustafa Francis and Djuma Mutuyimana.

Under Mbungo, Kiyovu started their current campaign this season on a winning note, beating Musanze FC 1-0 at Mumena stadium on Sunday.

Next up is a fixture against the defending champions Rayon Sports next weekend.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw