Rayon Sports' quest for their first league title since 2018/2019 season has evaporated into thin air after APR FC won their fifth straight Primus National League title with three games to spare. Things got worse for the Blues when Bugesera FC ended their African club football dreams for next season after knocking them out of the Peace Cup semifinals. It’s all over for Rayon Sports who are finishing the season without a major trophy. The aim of returning to African club competitions has faded away and they have to start planning for the 2024/25 season if they get things right during the coming transfer market. By far the most supported club in Rwanda, Rayon Sports’ massive fan base can be likened to the likes of Al Ahly in Egypt, Asante Kotoko in Ghana and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe among others. READ ALSO: Rayon Sports to appoint new coach this week, says president Uwayezu Sadly, in terms of performance, the team has been abysmal. During the 2023/24 season, they had the chance to make it to the group stages of the Confederation Cup as both of their qualifying games against Al Hilal of Libya were played on their home turf in Kigali due to floods in the Northern African country. Unfortunately, they were bundled out on penalties. The Blues have played second fiddle to APR once again. The military side has been dominant at least in the local scene as they are yet to lose a game in the league, which is quite the opposite for their arch rivals who have been far from impressive and their firm has been patchy. What is going wrong at Rayon Sports? Rayon Sports problems have been reoccurring every now and then. Ironically, they haven't been able to rectify and they keep making the same mistakes every season. Young Tunisian tactician Yamen Zelfani began a new era at the Blues following his appointment as club head coach of the club on July 12, 2023, succeeding Francis Haringingo who left the club after winning the Peace Cup. Zelfani was handed a one-year contract but he lasted just three months. He was fired in October after the club failed to progress in the CAF Confederation Cup. His assistant, Mohammed Wade, was tasked to lead the team on an interim basis but his reign didn’t take long either. He coached the team for three months before Frenchman Julien Mette was brought in on January 20 to take charge. In all, Rayon have had three coaches this season. Each of them had their own philosophy, and this obviously affected team’s performances. Rayon has the right to sack coaches but they must also look at how longevity helps. Zelfani was on a one-year contract and he should have been supported to build the team. He was fired after just three months and the team has never progressed. For now, no one even knows the future of Julien Mette whom showing him the exit when the season ends wouldn’t surprise anyone. It is prudent for Rayon to get a plan, get a target and at least maintain a coach for two to three years to achieve the set goals. After all, Rome was not built in a day. Secondly, one of Rayon Sports' major problems is rampant signing of players. It seems the club don't have a clear cut pattern of signing players; they just go in for any player especially foreign players and most of these signings are actually recommended by the coaches who are appointed. Wade brought in Paul Gomis, Alseny Camara and goalkeeper Khadime Ndiaye. Among the trio, only Ndiaye is a regular. At the beginning of the season, the club also signed Charles Bbaale, Simon Tamale from Uganda, Rharb Youssef from Morocco as well as Aruna Madjaliwa and Emmanuel Mvuyekure from Burundi. None of them has been in his prime despite the huge amount of money spent on them. Rayon released Raphael Osaluwe for inexplicable reasons. The Nigerian played a key role in the club's Peace Cup triumph last season and continuity was needed. Instead, unnecessary signings dragged the club backwards. After the Blues’ hard fought 1-0 win over Bugesera FC on April 24, skipper Kevin Muhire, in a post-match interview, called for change in club’s transfer policy if they are to win major trophies again next season. As a big club, Rayon should have a full scouting department and they must be responsible for scouting players, monitoring them for at least six months if they are not only playing regularly but also performing well before signing them. The unprecedented departures of Blues’ key players including Ugandan winger Joackiam Ojera, Adbul Rwatubyaye and Congolese midfielder Heritier Luvumbu did not help the club either, as they left in the middle of the season when the club was unable to find replacements. Ojera left for Al Mokawloon SC in Egypt for a reported fee of $20,000 and Abdul Rwatubyaye, under controversial circumstances, rejoined his former club FC Shkupi for $30,000 whereas Congolese attacking midfielder Heritier Nzinga Luvumbu was suspended for six months and subsequently had his contract terminated for anti-football reasons. The trio left at the time Rayon was in the right position to fight for the title and, though the club made money, they couldn't sign any adequate replacements and the team has struggled ever since. It would have been in the right direction if Rayon had negotiated and let Ojera and Rwatubyaye sign pre-contracts with the foreign teams and keep them until the end of the season in June. Currently, there is no telepathy in Rayon's play, the players play as if there is nothing at stake. The commitment level is down and they even struggle against relegation-threatened teams. In June, Rayon must make good signings as club skipper Muhire pointed it out. They must make a massive squad overhaul and let underperforming players leave. Good and active foreign players like Bugusera FC striker and Primus National League top scorer Elijah Ani, who is among their transfer targets, should be brought in. Mette's six-month contract expires at the end of the season and the top hierarchy of Rayon must endeavor to give him a long-term deal so that he can build a winsome team. For now, Rayon's season has ended without a trophy but there is hope. If the club management does the right thing, the team will undoubtedly be back to the top.
