Former Vihiga Bullets midfielder Jesse Kajuba’s attempt to play in the Rwandan top flight; the first division, came to fruition over the weekend as his side Vision FC earned promotion after a rigorous 4-team play-off contest that involved the top four in Rwanda’s two zones of the second division. Vision had ended the season top of Zone B but needed ratification through the play-offs and Kajuba, a one-time premier league player, is eager to have a taste of football at the top level in Rwanda. ‘’That was the dream from the start when I joined. I came into the team in the mid-season and it was clear what the vision was, and that’s what I wanted. I am pleased and ready to prove myself here,’’ says the diminutive forward. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8148149##Vision began the play-offs in earnest, dispatching fellow Zone B runners-up Muhanga 2-1. The next schedule of fixtures had them take on a yet-to-be-tested Zone sides Rutsiro and Intare. Despite edging Rutsiro 1-0 in the first leg, they would fall 3-2 in the second, a result that effectively took the latter to the top of the play-off table standings. WCQ: Harambee Stars’ chaotic buildup against Ivory Coast continuesKajuba concedes to the competitive levels of their opponents. ‘’In the play-offs, every single team came in as a top performer so it was never going to be easy. The strategy was to pick the home points first then manage to at least grab a point in the reverse fixture. Against Rutsiro, this didn’t work. They are a good side and deserve to be champions of the second division,’’ continues Kajuba. Of the four teams, only two made it up- Vision and overall champions Rutsiro who managed 13 points to Vision’s 10. Intare and Muhanga on the other hand will have to do another spell in the second tier.Rutsiro and Vision will now be tasked with more competitive fixtures in the top flight as Rwanda’s premier league is ranked among the top in the wider East African region. Clyde Senaji receives late Harambee Stars call-upKajuba believes his experience in the Kenyan top flight comes in handy for this next task. ‘’Not to say it will be easy in the Rwandan premier league but I believe having played at the top level in Kenya, that experience will be of great aid here. The FKF premier league is top and very competitive,’’ Kajuba, who at some point plied his trade with Muhoroni Youth, says. The promotion with Vision will be Kajuba’s second having already been part of Vihiga Bullet’s promotion into the Kenyan top flight in the past.
