Rayon, Marines coaches handed one-match ban

Rwanda Football Federation’s (FERWAFA) disciplinary committee has handed Rayon Sports head coach Djuma Masudi and Marines FC’s Abdul Karim Nduhirabandi a one-match ban over misconduct on the touchline. Abdul Karim Nduhirabandi The pair was sent to the stands during Rayon Sports’ 2-1 win over Marines in a league match on Sunday at Stade de Kigali. The result took Masudi’s team four points clear at the top of the table albeit with a game in hand. According to the FERWAFA spokesperson, Prosper Ruboneza, the two coaches will not be in the dugout for their teams’ next league matches. Rayon Sports play against Bugesera FC on March 22 while Marines coach will miss the match against the same team (Bugesera) on Sunday. Before the Bugesera game, Rayon Sports will be on a continental engagement in the CAF Confederation Cup first-round, where they face Malian side Onze Creatures. Rayon Sports will travel to Mali for the first leg slated on March 11 – the match will be played at Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako before hosting the second leg on March 18, at Amahoro national stadium. The two head coaches were seen stepping out of their designated areas during the match before centre referee Claude Ishimwe sent them to the stands late on. “It is clear for both coaches, they have been banned for one game each for what happened but they will not be fined,” Ruboneza told Times Sport. Rayon Sports head coach Djuma Masudi on the touchline during a past match. File) With the win, Rayon Sports (43 points) extended their lead at the top of the league table to four points ahead of second-placed APR, who drew 1-1 against Musanze on Friday, two days after losing 1-0 to relegation-threatened Gicumbi FC. Burundian midfielder Pierrot Kwizera scored the opening goal for the Blues in the 36th minute courtesy of his trade mark shots, which left Marines goalie Regis Ingabire without any chance. The Burundi international has so far scored eight goals this season. Rayon Sports doubled the lead from their new signing Abdoul Rwatubyaye, who scored his first goal for the club with a powerful header from Kwizera’s free kick in the 53rd minute. Ten minutes later, Marines pulled one goal back through former Police FC, AS Kigali and Amavubi striker Jimmy Mbaraga, who beat both defender Thierry Manzi and goalie Eric Ndayishimiye before slotting the ball in an empty net. Elsewhere on Sunday, Sunrise FC and bottom-placed Pepiniere played a goalless draw in Nyagatare while Kirehe FC also drew 1-1 against Etincelles at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu. AS Kigali ended Bugesera FC’s unbeaten home run this season with a 1-0 win on Saturday at Nyamata ground, thanks to new signing Pappy Chimanga, who made sure they grabbed maximum points in the 81st minute. Despite the win, Eric Nshimiyimana’s team remains in fourth place with 36 points, level with third-placed Police FC, which was held to a goalless draw by lowly Gicumbi FC. The two sides are three points behind APR FC. editorial@newtimes.co.rw