Etincelles FC turn to homegrown players

NATIONAL FOOTBALL league side Etincelles FC are planning to follow in the footsteps of APR, AS Kigali and Police FC by fielding only Rwandan players.This target, they say, will be achieved within the next two years.Speaking to Times Sport on Monday, Etincelles new chairperson Amani Turatsinze also said they intend to have at least 80 per cent of their players hailing from the Rubavu area. Turatsinze, previously the club vice chairperson, automatically assumed the top seat following the election of his predecessor Vedaste Kayiranga to the position of vice president of the Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) last weekend.The new Etincelles chief revealed that the club had started a tour of the 12 sectors of Rubavu District on a scouting mission for young, homegrown players. “We are lacking five players to complete the required 30-member squad, and we need to find those players from this area (Rubavu). We no longer want foreign players who cost us a lot of money yet at the end of the day there is really nothing to show for it,” he said. He added: “We believe that we can get the right players from within our area who can actually do a good, if not better, job than some foreigners we have signed in the past; we want to give homegrown talent the opportunity to prove themselves.”“Besides, if you look at most of the league teams, a good number (of Rwandan players) are from Rubavu, so why can’t Etincelles make use of the resources closer to home?” Turatsinze wondered.The campaign to look for the five players to fill up the squad before the start of league second round on Saturday next week is being conducted in five zones, among them are, Busasamana-Cyanzarwe, Nyamyumba- Rugerero, Gisenyi- Rubavu.According to the official, Etincelles, who are in eighth position in the league with 17 points from 13 matches, presently have one foreign player – their goalkeeper – who will be the last foreign player to play for the club – at least in the foreseeable future.

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Etincelles FC turn to homegrown players