Abdallah Murenzi has been elected as the Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy) new president, replacing Aimable Bayingana who resigned earlier this month.

In his acceptance speech, Murenzi said that professionalising the sport was the main priority for him and his executive committee.

Murenzi and his team will serve a mandate of two years before fresh elections for a new committee are held. This, he explained, is because the recently resigned committee served half their four-year term.

"As head of the federation, my responsibility is to steer the sport in the right direction. And, I believe that direction is making it as professional as it can get. We have to put emphasis on grassroots and youth programmes,” added Murenzi.

"I have been in sports for a while now, and I know how Rwandans love cycling. I am committed to its development and that of the riders.”

Previously the Mayor of Nyanza District, Murenzi was elected unopposed on Sunday during the extraordinary electoral general assembly, while former Member of Parliament Marie-Agnès Mukazibera was elected as the first vice-president. Alphonse Nkuranga is the new second vice-president.

Ferwacy’s new secretary-general is Jean-Léonard Sekanyange, with Assia Ingabire taking up as treasurer. The general assembly also put in place a three-member advisory council that comprises Irène Bayisabe, Rabin Hamim Karambizi and Geoffrey Karama.

Murenzi, who formerly served as Rayon Sports football club president, is a familiar name in sports administration.

He is credited with breathing new life into Rayon as, under his leadership, the Blues won their first Rwanda Premier League title in 2013 after a nine-year drought.