Rwanda Football Federation ( FERWAFA) on Tuesday, June 20, released the fixtures for the maiden season of the third tier league.
The fixtures came out just three days after the league was officially on Saturday,
June 17, at Kamena stadium in Huye District, Southern Province. The launch ceremony saw AS Huye beat Ibisi FC 1-0 in the opening match.
READ ALSO: Third tier league to start next season
Times Sport brings you keys things that you need to know about the league
How many teams confirmed for the 2023/24 third tier season?
A total of 57 teams from across the country will play the preliminary games from their respective zones namely Kigali, East, West, North and South. Zone East has the highest representation with 23 teams while Zone West is the least represented with only four teams.
Most of the teams participating in the third division league are playing their first national league competition. Some clubs like UR Huye, Miroplast, Akagera and Kamonyi Football Academy (former Pepienere FC) who featured in second division leagues in the past years will not play the preliminary round. They will join when the league reaches the round of 16.
How many teams can earn a second division promotion ticket?
Only the two third tier league finalists will be promoted to the second division league. Winners of the inaugural third tier league will be promoted to play the 2023/24 second division league season which kicks off November 11.
Four second division teams battling for third tier relegated safety
Four teams namely ASPOR FC, Impesa FC, Esperance and Gasabo United will play mini league playoff games after which the bottom two teams will drop to third division while top two teams will remain in the second division.
The mini league is expected to start in early October.
Who is eligible to play in the third division league?
According to Rwanda FA acting boss Marcel Matiku Habyarimana, it is mandatory for all teams to use players who are under the age of 24.
How about the fourth tier league?
Habyarimana called on third tier teams to put in efforts and bring competition in the league before adding that, if things go according to plan, the fourth division league will be next sooner or later.
"We encourage you to put your efforts into this. This is a stage where we want children who have football talent to participate in this league from their respective ones all over the country and not a single child will be discriminated against," he said.
"If this succeeds and we see that there is a lot of will, we will set up the fourth division.”
What to expect from the third tier league?
The FA believes that the newly created league will produce good young players for second division league, topflight league and the national team in the near future.