Five new clubs sign-up to women football league

Five new clubs have been drafted into the 2013 Women football league which will kick off on November 30, according to Rwanda Football Federation, Ferwafa.

Thursday, October 31, 2013
Grace Nyinawumuntu has led AS Kigali to five league titles in a row. Times Sport/ File.

Five new clubs have been drafted into the 2013 Women football league which will kick off on November 30, according to Rwanda Football Federation, Ferwafa.They include; Academy Girls Sport of Muhanga, Atletico Huye, Don Bosco Gatenga, Evening Stars of Muhanga and Freedom based in Gakenke. They join the 11 existing clubs to make a total of 16 clubs which will compete in the 2013/14 women's league.The 16 teams have been grouped in two pools where the best four from each pool will meet in the quarter-final with winners progressing to the semi-final and final to determine the two finalists and the champion.The last three teams in each pool will be relegated to second division women league which will start next season while the best five from each pool will constitute the first division league.Coach Grace Nyinawumuntu's AS Kigali which has lifted five women league titles in a row will be seeking their sixth title in a row.The women football league started in 2009 and was first won by APR, but after that AS Kigali have imposed themselves year after year.Rwanda is the only country to have a functioning women's football league in East Af-rica, thanks to a $37,500 annual grant from FIFA.However, the grant is not enough for all the teams in the league since it's used only for transporting teams to the stadiums, prize money for the top two teams and meals for players on match days.Unlike the men's league where players are on professional contracts, the women's teams pay tuition fees for the players in addition to small allowances.Pool A: AS Kigali, APR, Esir, Rambura, Urumuri, Freedom, Don Bosco Gatenga and Evening Stars.Pool B: The Winners, Kamonyi, Inyemera, Bugesera, Les Lionnes, Imirasire, Atletico Huye and Academy Girls Sports Team.