Rayon Sport, Rwanda’s most popular team, is currently in crisis. The crisis stems from their elimination by Al-Hilal Benghazi in the CAF Cup. Missing out on the group stage has not gone down well with the players, management and fans.
Rayon Sport represented Rwanda in the CAF Cup and this team, Rwanda’s most popular, started the competition in the second round. Rayon Sport’s opponents were Al-Hilal Benghazi from Libya. Rayon Sport represented Rwanda in the CAF Cup and this team, Rwanda’s most popular, started the competition in the second round. Rayon Sport’s opponents were Al-Hilal Benghazi from Libya. The club’s objective was to reach the group stage.
Following the bad weather that ravaged the country, CAF, in agreement with Al-Hilal and Rayon Sport, agreed that the two matches would be played in Kigali, at the Pelé Stadium. Following this decision, Rayon Sport’s directors, players and fans were already looking forward to the group stage. Some had even begun to allocate the four hundred thousand US dollars that teams who reach the group stage of the CAF Cup receive.
Total disappointment
As expected, both matches took place in Kigali. In the first match, Rayon Sport dominated, but in the end the score was tied at one goal apiece. In the second match, the two teams were also separated by a goal and Rayon Sport lost on penalties (4-2). It was hard for Rayon Sport fans to accept this setback, which some even described as a fiasco. Some of the players were in tears, as were the team’s most fervent fans. It was difficult for most to leave the stadium.“We’re devastated. The coach is responsible for our defeat. I think he’s been corrupted by his Libyan brothers. It’s time he left our club because his objective was to qualify us for the group stage. Our president must quickly find us another coach who is worthy of our team,” said an indignant fan who spoke to Sport News Africa after the match.
After this rout, Yamen Zelfani and his players had a number of league matches to get through. A trick match awaited them in the west of Rwanda against Marines FC. Rayon Sport drew 2-2.On the bench, the Tunisian coach almost came to blows with his players, in particular with defender Mitima Isaac, who was not happy with his replacement, had it not been for the intervention of his assistants. After the match, the fans, who were also enraged, hurled insults at the coach. Zelfani was angry and would not be denied.A crisis had just set in at Rwanda’s most popular club. A day later, we learnt that Yamen Zelfani had agreed with his managers to step down.
Some fans already did not want to see him on the bench against Marines.“Zelfani should have been sacked after the match against Al Hilal. The directors were lenient, which I don’t think is logical,” said Eric Nizeyimana, an angry Rayon Sport fan.
Yamen Zelfani sacked, deputy takes charge
Yamen Zelfani did not last long at Rayon Sport. Four months were enough for him to realise that few coaches finish the season at the club. His assistant, the Mauritanian Mohammed Wade, is in charge on an interim basis.“We hope to have a new coach by the beginning of November. Mohammed Wade is not qualified to take over the reins of the club on a full-time basis, as he only has a CAF C licence. For the time being, he has a dispensation from the Rwanda Football Federation.We are therefore obliged to hire a coach with an A licence to manage our beloved club,” says Robben Ngabo, spokesman for Rayon Sport.
The defeat by Musanze FC (1-0) on Matchday 7, 15 October, exacerbated the crisis within the club. Claude Muhawenimana, the supporters’ representative, told Sport News Africa that the urgent need at the moment is to remobilise the club’s fans, who are frustrated by the poor results. He added that they have a very important match on 29 October against their rivals APR and that they need everyone’s help to win, before welcoming the new coach in a calm atmosphere.
