Etoile de l’Est ‘only focused’ on Premier League comeback
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Etoile de l'Est goalkeeper in action during a 0-6 match against Police FC on February 13. Courtesy

Second division league side Etoile de l’Est have their eyes only set on a quick comeback to the top flight league, the right place club Secretary General Elia Byukusenge believes his side deserves to be.

It took the Ngoma-based side 24 years to earn a promotion to Rwanda Premier League during the 2020/2021 season but they were eventually relegated back to the second division after one season due to a poor run of results.

Byukusenge’s side lead their Group A with 20 and have not lost a single game so far this season as the team pushes for a quick comeback to the top flight league.

"We are now trying everything possible to have a great season so we can return to the top flight league next season,” Byukusenge told Times Spots.

"Even though we’ve been relegated, we didn’t lose our best players. We decided to keep them at the club and we still pay them good salaries as we used to do last season so that they can help us to get back to the top flight league,” he added.

Byukusenge believes that, with the support from Etoile fans, the team can be back to ‘where it belongs’.

He admitted that, "we disappointed our fans last season but we promise them that we’ve learnt enough from failures. That won’t happen anymore. What is important now is to stick together and rise again.”

Etoile de l’Est are now five points clear at the top of Group A table with 20 points in eight matches, followed by Vision FC and La Jeunesse who sit second and third respectively.