French-born tactician Didier Gomes da Rosa has parted ways with the reigning Rwanda national football league champions Rayon Sports, barely a month before the team makes a return to the Africa Champions League since 2005. Announcing his resignation to the press, Gomes said he is leaving the job after one year due to personal reasons. “I have terminated my contract with Rayon Sports,” Gomes said without delving into specifics for the reason behind the shock exit.“I have done everything I could for the club and I am sad that I had to leave this way.”Asked if he resigned because of unpaid three-month arrears, Gomes said; “Please allow me not to comment on this particular issue. Rayon Sports is a club that I do respect and love, most especially its fans. They have a lot to achieve this year and I don’t want them to lose focus.” Reports coming in from the Blues camp in Nyanza confirm that the club owes Gomes a three-month unpaid salary amounting to $9,000 [about Rwf6 million] while the players are yet to be paid their salaries for the past two months. Efforts to get a comment from Rayon Sports secretary-general Olivier Gakwaya were futile yesterday as our phone calls on his known mobile number went unanswered. Gomes leaves Rayon Sports after guiding them to their first Rwandan league title since 2004. Rayon, who won the league with 57 points, had last registered league success way back in 2004 under Raoul Shungu.The win also pushed the team’s tally to seven league titles since 1968 and a chance to represent the country at this year’s Africa Champions League. Next month, Rayon Sports will face Congolese side AC Leopards in the preliminary qualifying round of the CAF Champions League. Should Rayon overcome the tricky Congolese side, they will face the winner between 1ero Agosto of Angola and Lioli from Lesotho in the first round.
