Esperance FC eager to shine in top flight division

Pre-season matchesWednesdayEsperance 2-1 AS KigaliYesterdayEsperance 1-1 Kiyovu SC PRIMUS national football league new comers Esperance FC are aiming to mark a brilliant debut after showing their abilities in pre-season matches against some of the top teams in the top flight division.The Kimisagara-based side, who claimed the last season’s second division football league title after beating Gicumbi FC 2-1 in the final, have so far played five pre-season matches against APR FC, Rayon Sports, Kiyovu SC , Mukura VS and Peace Cup winners AS Kigali.They lost 1-0 to 13-time champions APR FC and Huye-based Mukura respectively, drew 1-1 with reigning champions Rayon Sports two weeks ago and on Wednesday, Esperance came from being 1-0 down at half time to beat AS Kigali 2-1 at Stade de KigaliOn Friday, Esperance held Kiyovu at a 1-all draw at Mumena stadium.“We are happy with the way things are going in our preparation, and we still plan to play more friendly games as we put together a strong team that will be able to make a brilliant league debut,” head coach Camalade Banamwana told Saturday Sport.The club has signed a host of players mostly from the lower division, among them Jean Claude Zagabe and Gustave Higiro (La Jeunesse), Bernard Uwayezu and Ezekiel Gahunda (Bugesera FC), Benoit Kamuhanda, Amadi Hakorimana, Elvis Sinagaye and Didier Ndahayo from Gicumbi FC and Emmanuel Tumaine from second division side Etoile de l’Est.