AS KIGALI have released 12 players as the club look to build a more competitive team that can challenge Rayon Sports and APR for the 2019-20 Azam Rwanda Premier League.

The club is also preparing to represent Rwanda in next season’s African Confederation Cup.

The released players include Burundian striker Jean Claude Ndarusanze, who was the 2017/2018 topflight league’s golden boot winner, with 15 goals.

The 2019 Peace Cup winners bid farewell to the players after the acquisition of nine new players last week that included Amavubi skipper Haruna Niyonzima, former Amavubi goalkeeper Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye, and former APR right-back Michel Rusheshangoga.

According to Daniel Komezusenge, the AS Kigali’s Secretary General, the offloaded players were not part of the club’s plans for next season.

This publication understands that the City of Kigali-sponsored side are also in advanced talks with their former coach, Eric Nshimiyimana, to sign him back after the two sides parted company at the start of last season.

Should the former APR and Amavubi midfielder, 47, rejoin AS Kigali, it will be his third time to coach the Nyamirambo-based side after his 2008 brief stint and then from 2013 to 2018.

Nshimiyimana was part of the national team (Amavubi) squad that participated in the 2004 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals tournament in Tunisia.

Full list of offloaded players:

Jean Claude Ndarusanze, Emmanuel Ngama, Fabrice Nininahazwe, Fuadi Ndayisenga, Rodrigue Murengezi, Fred Muhozi, Djumaine Ntate, Kevin Ishimwe, Djuma Bizimana, Frank  Kalanda, Alphonse Nizeyimana, and Moses Kanamugire.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com