Usher Komugisha Rayon Sports is the oldest football club in the country, founded in 1968 and without a single doubt, the most supported football team in Rwanda. In fact, it is revered and many a time, the fans are entangled in such emotion whether a win or loss that one would think there is a heavenly reward to all this activity. But no, do not be mistaken, they love this club and have invested a lot of time and sentiments in supporting Rayon Sports. Some will paint their faces blue and white or march to and from their homes to the stadium all in the name of getting behind their lovely club. Dubbed ‘Gikundiro’ by the fans literally meaning ‘Our love’ but again this is an understatement to explain how much they love this club. Across the country, you will find several fans groups that converge every weekend to travel to Kigali to cheer on their team. However, all the excitement in these rituals has taken a back seat in recent weeks following a poor run of results that has tested their faith in the club, players, new coach and management. Their last game, a 1-1 draw against the stubborn Marines side was the last straw in the hat as a crisis meeting was immediately convened to address the issues affecting the club’s dismal performance. Since Andy Magloire Mfutila took over as head coach in November, he is yet to register a win for the Blues and has come under immense pressure. However, all this does not have anything to do with his tactics as we have known him for being a successful coach in the past decade with silverware at top clubs on the African continent like TP Mazembe and AS Vita, both from his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. In fact as head coach of APR in the 2007/2008 season, he won the double – the domestic league and Peace Cup but all this has come to question following his recent results. From a keen observer’s point of view, Rayon Sports has to put in place New Year’s resolutions if they are to achieve the objectives they have promised, if not for themselves then for the fans because they deserve the best. From the inconsistent appearance of players at training sessions to unpaid wages for two months, it is a bizarre sight at the Nyanza-based side that has culminated in an incompetent and self-destructing team that was once a force to reckon with but has settled for survival tactics. In the month of December, Rayon Sports not only failed to win a game but failed to hold onto a lead, or snatched a winner or put up a convincing performance or execute a game plan to amass to lethal performances in front of goal. When the Blues concede first, they look shattered and distraught and ultimately lack the confidence to orchestrate a comeback that can eventually see them win games. Players who lack confidence often make mistakes and then try to correct them but in due course make matters worse through panic. But this is not just down to the players; it is a collective effort by all the stakeholders at the club. It is a vicious cycle that if not addressed will hurt the club’s ambitions locally, regionally and on the continent. If players are not paid on time and top management does not communicate to the players about the absence of finances then the unmotivated players who have to deal with the troubles that come with a string of poor results will only get worse by the day. It is circumstances like this that have forced dependable players like assistant captain Faustin Usengimana and left back Abouba Sibomana to open talks with foreign clubs in a bid to quit Rayon Sports for greener pastures. This has already destabilised the club’s fortunes ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup tie against Cameroon’s Panthère Sportive du Ndé FC in the preliminary round next month. For a club that employed four coaches in one year, Rayon Sports has to set structures in place where they hold onto coaches and players for longer periods of time to build a foundation for a consistent team. Frenchman Didier Gomes da Rosa who resigned in January last year following the club’s inability to pay him for up to three months before Belgian Luc Eymael left at the end of the season in May and his predecessor Belgian Francois Losciuto who left after two months are an example of the inconsistency that has engulfed Rayon Sports. Rayon Sports should be dominating football in Rwanda but because of disorganization at the helm, they have become a laughable outfit and have time and again failed their fans who hold it dearly to their hearts. For them to make it back to the top, they ought to revise their strategies because a winning mentality can be achieved but maintaining the position at the top is worth fighting for. Rayon Sports is currently fourth on the National Football League table standings with 19 points from 11 games, seven behind archrivals APR. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
