Etoile de l’Est was crowned the 2023 Ferwafa second division champions and were, alongside Amagaju FC, promoted to the topflight league, on Saturday, May 20.
The 2022/23 second division season has seen a lot of young talents and experienced players who stood out for their teams from the group stages to the last mini-league playoff matches.
READ ALSO: Champions Etoile, Amagaju promoted to the topflight league
Here Times Sports looks at the top five players who stood out in the 2022/23 season.
Isaïe Songa (Etoile de l’Est)
The 29-year-old striker has been one of the emerging players of the season. In his first season at the Ngoma-based club, he finished as the joint league top scorer with 13 league goals and made eight assists. He caught everyone’s eye with his ball-control, physical abilities and finishing skills.
Bertin Dusenge (Gicumbi FC)
Gicumbi FC’s forward had an impressive season netting 13 goals and assisting four goals despite missing out on the topflight league promotion at the last minute. The attacker finished his contract at Gicumbi FC looking for employers for the next session as a free agent.
Olulu Alex (Etoile de l’Est)
The Nigerian centre-back was signed before the start of the season and he is in contention for being one of the signings of the season. He was very instrumental in Etoile’s backline and has been a rock at the back alongside centre-back partner Fiston Munezero.
Claude Mumbere Saiba (Amagaju FC)
The former Musanze forward, Mumbere, known as Kizizi was vital in Amagaju’s topflight league promotion battle. He contributed to 13 goals, scoring seven goals and providing six assists.
The Congolese led Amagaju to their first Premier League promotion since 2018. Times Sports understands that the attacker is in talks with the club to extend his stay at the Nyamagabe district-sponsored team.
Paul Laab Garia (Gicumbi FC)
The Gicumbi FC midfielder is often regarded as the best player of the season. The Ghanaian has been in the heart of Gicumbi’s midfield ever since he arrived at the club in August 2021.
The Gicumbi-based team relied heavily on the midfielder and the Ghanaian showed no signs of slowing down. Garia made 15 assists and scored six goals in the season, making him the first player with a high goal contribution (21) in the league. Garia also made history after scoring five direct free-kicks in a single season.