AS Kigali face uncertain future amid financial Turmoil
Tuesday, June 04, 2024
AS Kigali players look dejected during a Peace Cup match against APR FC at Kigali Pele stadium . Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana

The future of Primus National League side AS Kigali looks bleak as the team could exit the 2024/25 season and subsequently be disbanded due to financial constraints.

The Citizens report salary arrears of seven months and recruitment fee amounting to Rwf149,990,000 owed to their players during the 2023/24 season while hopes of budget for the 2024/25 season remains in limbo should they get no sponsorship.

The club has now opened up about the possibility of withdrawing from the 2024/25 topflight football should their main sponsor, City of Kigali, fail to bear to not only pay due salaries and recruitment fees but also commit to pay club’s expenditure of Rwf 600 million for the coming season.

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"The City of Kigali must endeavor to pay the past due salaries and recruitment fee not later than June 9," an official release from the club signed by Honorary Chairman Fabrice Shema on June 4 reads in part.

"The City of Kigali must also issue a written commitment of payment of next season's expenditure in totality by June 9."

Should the City of Kigali not react to AS Kigali’s two requested accordingly, the communique states, "this will result in terminating as ‘force majeure’ of all contracts of players and staff and ensure them that all their obligations will be paid in due course by the executive committee members.”

AS Kigali has been in financial crisis since the beginning of the 2023/24 season prompting mass exodus of most their then highest paid players to relieve themselves from the financial burden.

They finished 5th at the end of the 2023/24 season with 45 points from 30 games.