With the Rwanda premier league scheduled to start next month, top clubs are running against the clock to beef up their squads ahead of the new football season.
League champions APR FC and Peace Cup winners AS Kigali have had a busy transfer market as they bid to challenge on the domestic front and impress in the CAF champions league and Confederations cup respectively.
Kiyovu SC, which finished in second place last season, just a point below APR have also signed a couple of players as the club sets its sights on the league title next season.
Rayon Sport which claims to have the biggest fan base in the country have also been re-building after snatching Burundian coach Francis Haringingo from Kiyovu.
With teams now back in action for pre-season training, Times Sport looks at how top teams have fared during the transfer market so far.
APR FC
The league champions never miss out on the transfer market season after season by tying down the best of homegrown players.
The club’s mission has now gone beyond just dominating domestic football but also trying to compete with the best teams in the region and continent.
Coach Adil’s transfer targets were already known even before the season ended.
The club finished their business in the transfer market early after securing the services of Marines midfielder Fiston Ishimwe, Christian Ishimwe and Ramadhan Niyibizi from AS Kigali, Clement Niyigena from Rayon Sports, Pablo Ndikumana from Musanze FC.
The players are now training with the rest of the team at Shyorongi training ground as they prepare for next season.
The army side is however without striker Jacques Tuysenge who is searching for a new team after falling out of favor with Coach Adil Muhamed and the club management.
Midfielder Keddy Nsanzimfura and defender Aimable Nsabimana could also be shown the exit door after failing to impress the coach last season.
Kiyovu
Despite losing head coach Francis Haringingo to arch-rivals Rayon Sports, the Mumena-based side has avoided losing its key players as they bid to challenge for the league title ahead next season.
The Green Baggies have already brought in Sudanese duo John Mano and Sharaf Eldin Shaiboud Ali Abderlahman.
Kiyovu has also reportedly reached an agreement to sign Espoir defender Amza Runanira and striker Bertrand Iradukunda who is a free agent since he was released by Botswana topflight side Township Rollers.
The club will however be without Eric Ngendahimana who joined Rayon Sports and Gilbert Dusingizimana who signed for AS Kigali.
Kiyovu’s main focus now is to get a new head coach who is ready to fight for the title just like Haringingo did last season. Belgian Patrick Aussems was close to signing for the Green Baggies but surprisingly made a U-turn and committed his future with Kenyan side AFC Leopards.
AS Kigali
The city of Kigali sponsored side ended the season on a high after winning the 2021/22 Peace Cup and is set to represent the country in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
AS Kigali are trying to replace key players who left the club like Christian Ishimwe and striker Ramadhan Niyibizi to APR FC while defender Felix Ndekwe and Aboubakar Lawal joined Rayon Sports and Vipers respectively.
The club is also fighting to keep Rwanda Premier League top scorer Shaban Hussein Tshabalala who is out of contract but no agreement has been reached yet.
The player exodus forced the management in to the market to fill the void and they have so far signed players like Cameroon international Man Ykre Dangmo Ngnowa Hapmo .
Other additions include Elissa Rucogoza from Bugesera FC, Jean Bosco Akayezu from Etincelles FC, Moïse Nyarugabo from Mukura and Gilbert Dusingizimana from Kiyovu Sports.
Rayon Sports
The nine-time league champions are pushing to return back to the summit of the Rwandan football after finishing in fourth position last season.
Coach Francis Haringingo signed for Rayon after he was convinced by the club’s project and he will be faced with a huge task of guiding the club back to its glorious past.
The club has so far strengthened their defense by bringing in former AS Kigali defender Felix Ndekwe as replacement for Clement Niyigena who joined APR FC.
Other signings include Arsene Tuyisenge from Espoir, Raphael Osalue, Didier Junior Mucyo and Elie Ganijuru from Bugesera, Jean de Dieu Hirwa from Marine, Eric Ngendahimana from SC Kiyovu and Hadji Iraguha from Rutsiro.