Rwanda Football League — Stepping Out on Match Day 20
Here’s what I found out about the Rwanda National Football League.
The domestic league is not as popular as European leagues.
There are 16 teams in the first division.
There seems to be stadium sharing model in place for home games.
It is sponsored by, and named after, a popular local beer, Primus.
Team Profiles on the Top-5 leader board
Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Football Club or simply APR, is a football club from Kigali in Rwanda. The club plays their home games at Amahoro Stadium. The club was founded in June 1993 as the team of the Rwandese Patriotic Front.
Kiyovu Sports Association, more commonly known as S.C. Kiyovu Sports, Kiyovu Sports or Kiyovu, is an association football club based in Kigali, Rwanda. The team currently competes in the Rwanda National Football League, and plays its home games at Mumena Stadium or Amahoro Stadium.
Mukura Victory Sports et Loisirs Football Club, commonly known as Mukura Victory Sports or simply Mukura, is an association football club from Butare, Rwanda. Founded in May 1963, the club currently plays its home games at Stade Huye.
Rayon Sports Football Club is an association football club from Nyanza, Southern province, Rwanda, now based in Kigali. The team currently plays its home games at the Stade Amahoro and Kigali Stadium, Nyamirambo.
A.S. Kigali Football Club is a Rwandan football club from Kigali. They play their home games at Kigali Stadium located in Nyamirambo — Yes, I visited the stadium on Match Day 20 (6 March 2022).
Established in 1999, the team plays in the Rwandan Premier League. AS Kigali has won the Rwandan Cup two times and the Rwandan Super Cup two times.
From the standings on Match Day 20, it is looking like a two-horse race between APR and Kiyovu with the likes of Mukura, Rayon, AS Kigali, Musanze and Police — all vying for the Top-4 finish.
The league could use some branding or re-branding if you like. I’ll tell you “how” in my next post.
