Rwanda’s football governing body (FERWAFA) has announced that the third division league will start during the 2023/24 season.

READ ALSO: Second Division: Who qualified for the Big Four mini league?

According to federation’s Club Licensing Officer, John Livingstone Muhire, registration for clubs interested in participating in the third division is underway until May 5.

"The registration has started today[Wednesday]. For now, no club has registered but we’re expecting some soon,” Muhire told Times Sport on Wednesday.

Muhire explained that two teams from the Second Division League will be relegated to join the newly-registered teams in the third tier.

Two last teams from each of Groups A and B of the 2022/23 second division league will play a mini league. After playing between them, two top teams will stay in the second division and the last two teams will be relegated to the third division.

ASPOR FC, Impeesa FC, Esperance FC and Gasabo United are the four teams which will battle for the third tier relegation safety.

"Soon we will let you know when the mini league starts but what is confirmed is that it will be played in a home and away format,” Muhire explained.

The federation has not decided the exact number of teams that will feature in the third division but Livingstone said that the number will depend on teams that will register and whether they meet the requirements.

"We don’t know yet how many teams that will play in the 2023/24 third tier season, because even after registration there will be other assessments to see whether teams that registered fulfil all the requirements to be able to compete,” he noted.