PHOTOS: Etincelles FC secure one-year deal with RydeXpress

Etincelles FC signed a one-year partnership agreement with car-rental platform RydeXpress ahead of the 2026/27 football season, as the Rubavu-based club looks to strengthen its commercial relationships and support its ambitions for the new campaign.

The agreement, which is renewable, was announced at a ceremony where the two parties outlined their expectations for the collaboration.

The Rubavu-based team also unveiled the kit it will wear during the 2026/27 season.

RydeXpress chief executive Tuyishime Zerothe said the decision to partner with Etincelles was driven by the club’s reputation and their ambition to build a new chapter in their history.

He described Etincelles as an established and competitive club, adding that RydeXpress wanted to accompany the team on its journey as it seeks to make further progress.

RydeXpress operates an online platform that connects vehicle owners who want to rent out their cars with customers looking to hire vehicles.

Owners can list their vehicles through the company’s website, www.rydexpress.com, while prospective renters can use the platform to find available cars.

Zerothe said the company also aimed to contribute to addressing transport challenges in Rwanda by making vehicle-hire services more accessible.

Etincelles secretary-general Christ Yannick Muhabwa welcomed the partnership, describing RydeXpress as a valuable addition to the club’s growing network of commercial partners.

Muhabwa said the company could benefit from its association with Etincelles because the club is based in Rubavu, a district known for tourism and business activity around Lake Kivu.

He added that Etincelles remained open to working with other companies interested in supporting the club, underlining the importance of partnerships in strengthening the team’s operations.

The agreement comes as clubs across Rwanda continue to seek commercial support to meet the demands of professional football, including team preparations, equipment, travel and other operational costs.

The precise financial value of the RydeXpress agreement was not disclosed.

The club’s name, Etincelles—French for “sparks”—is closely associated with its identity.

Founded in Gisenyi in 1962, Etincelles FC are among Rwanda’s historic football clubs.

Traditionally associated with red and white, they won the Rwandan Cup in 1988 and competed in continental competitions in 1989 and 2011.

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