Rayon Sports at a crossroads: Why the revolving crisis and what interim committee must fix

Rayon Sports is at it again — in the headlines, but for the wrong reasons. Some will say, but that is Rayon, and Rayon being Rayon. Can we afford to let Rayon be Rayon? Wouldn't that be homicidal? Rwanda's most passionately supported football club, stands once again in the middle of a storm that has become all too familiar — I even fail where to begin from, for, we have been here before, and I am pretty sure, it won't be the last! On November 25, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) dissolved all of the club’s governance organs and appointed a five-member interim committee led by the former Mayor of Nyanza District, Abdallah Murenzi — the second such intervention in just four years. The decision followed mounting concerns over chronic governance failures that have repeatedly crippled the club’s performance, fractured internal unity, and undermined its role in national sports development. If Rwandan football was a human body, Rayon Sports would be the brain. Even Rwandan Parliament weighed in during a November 19 session, warning that the club’s perpetual infighting was eroding not only the club’s reputation but also the broader economic and social value that sports brings to Rwanda. The big question now is: Why does Rayon Sports keep collapsing under every administration? And can this new interim leadership finally end the cycle? Can it find lasting remedy(ies)? If anyone needs reminding, Rayon Sports is not just a football club. It is a national institution — a cultural symbol with a passionate fan base unmatched in Rwanda. Yet its strength has long been its weakness. For over two decades that I have followed Rayon, leadership issues have repeatedly undone the club’s progress. Talk about taking one step forward and three backwards. This has been a constant, and the worry is that even this interim committee might not do much to end the cycle once and for all. Every administration seems to inherit familiar problems; structural weaknesses, underlying power centers, fan-driven political interference, financial indiscipline, and constant factional fights. Instead of building continuity and institutional memory, Rayon often resets its leadership structures every few years. The result; instability becomes the norm. It is ridiculous. The supposed leaders have turned the famous club into a laughing stock, of sorts! Despite winning major titles and producing memorable football moments, Rayon have rarely enjoyed prolonged periods of calm or strategic growth. APR FC — their closest archival — thrive on institutional stability, and it shows on the pitch. Rayon, meanwhile, are locked in a cycle of self-inflicted setbacks. What seems to always go wrong A look at previous crises reveals a pattern that repeats itself with worrying consistency. At the front of the countless upheavals is the weak, conflicting governance structures of multiple organs with unclear roles that often pull in different directions. Stuff like executive committees, boards, “supreme organs,” and fan pressure groups frequently clash, leading to paralysis. Leadership discord: Every election seems to split the club into rival camps. Instead of uniting behind one agenda, leaders engage in power struggles that trickle down to players, fans, and sponsors. Another key factor at the heart of the unending internal struggles, for decades, is the poor financial management and lack of transparency. Rayon’s financial problems are legendary — unpaid players and coaches, unclear debt records, disputed sponsorship deals, and questionable spending habits. For every administration that I have known (of), transparency is often an afterthought. Fan interference in decision-making: While fans are Rayon's lifeblood, their involvement/influence in daily governance has sometimes turned into pressure, influencing appointments, dismissals, and policy shifts. This has had adverse effects. There is also the issue of absence of a long-term strategy. Each administration starts afresh, with no continuity plan for youth development, infrastructure, or financial sustainability. A club of Rayon Sports' stature cannot survive on short-term firefighting. But that is what is happening, unfortunately. Until the interim committee or any else, finds long-term solutions to these issue, Rayon will remain Rayon. Fact. Murenzi's interim committee carries a heavy responsibility. This may not be Rayon's last, but it’s the best chance to break free from its destructive cycle. The interim committee must make sure to do the first things first, or else, it's going to be the same old story all over, again. Rayon Sports is like a fool, who keeps repeating the same mistakes hoping for a different outcome. Rayon, like all local clubs, need to write and modernize its statutes. A robust constitution with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability structures is critical. The club’s governance organs must be streamlined to avoid duplication of power and recurring institutional wars. Importantly, football administration must be left to qualified professionals, not political alliances or fan-driven appointments. If they can copy from the best practices, a CEO-led operational model could bring stability and continuity. The external audit ordered by RGB should be followed by transparent accounting systems, regular financial reports and independent oversight mechanisms. Without financial discipline and order, sporting success is impossible. Fans must remain supporters - not decision-makers. Leadership should be merit-based, not loyalty-based. Rayon need a sustainable football philosophy with youth development, professional scouting systems, player welfare policies and a technical structure insulated from internal politics. That Rayon Sports’ leadership issues have escalated to the point of parliamentary scrutiny is a national embarrassment. A club of its stature should be a model for others to follow, not a recurring administrative emergency. If Murenzi and his committee succeed, Rayon Sports can reclaim its rightful place at the top of Rwandan football — not only as a football giant and winning trophies, but also as a model of professional sports governance. However, if it fails, my prediction is that the cycle will continue, and the club’s future will remain hostage to the same internal storms that have haunted it for decades. This may be the hardest task, but reuniting divided factions requires diplomacy, transparency and firm decision-making. Without unity, even the strongest reforms will collapse. Rayon faithfulls deserve better, for, they give their all for the club. As it is said, this is Rayon Sports’ moment of truth. And perhaps its best opportunity to fix itself from within. Trust me only Rayon can fix itself — any external help can only be that.