Rayon Sports players, coaches and supporters were filled with joy after the club ended a 28-year wait for CECAFA Kagame Cup glory, while Gor Mahia were left to rue another painful near miss following a dramatic 2-1 defeat in Friday’s final at Amahoro Stadium. Playing in front of a capacity home crowd, Rayon Sports secured only their second CECAFA Kagame Cup title, adding to the trophy they last won in 1998. Club captain Emmanuel Nshimiyimana described the triumph as a historic achievement. “There was great pressure on us to win this CECAFA tournament, especially playing in front of our supporters at home,” Nshimiyimana said after lifting the trophy. “Winning this trophy is something that will remain in our history forever. This is the beginning of joy for Rayon Sports players and fans. We are proud to have brought this title back to our club after many years.” The victory sparked jubilant celebrations among thousands of supporters inside Amahoro Stadium and across the country as Rayon Sports reclaimed their place among East and Central Africa’s football elite. Youngster Daniel Muhoza emerged as the hero after coming off the bench to score the winning goal with a spectacular acrobatic finish that sent the home crowd into wild celebrations. “I am happy to be part of this history and to help the club win such a big trophy,” he said. “Let’s enjoy this moment. I believe this is just the beginning for our team and we will keep working hard.” Midfielder Akbar Muderi also highlighted the significance of the achievement after a tournament that demanded resilience and determination from the squad. “We are happy to win. It was a hard-fought match, but in the end we managed to get the victory,” Muderi said. “There is joy everywhere and when people are happy, it means a lot to us and to the entire Rayon Sports family.” At the heart of the Blues’ historic campaign was head coach Francis Haringingo, who became only the second coach in the club’s history to guide Rayon Sports to CECAFA Kagame Cup glory, following Raoul Shungu, who led the club to its maiden title in 1998. The Burundian tactician praised his players for executing the game plan despite the immense pressure surrounding the final. “I am very happy,” Haringingo said. “I thank the players because they implemented everything we had planned. We had a strategy, we executed it well, and that guided us to the title.” Beyond regional bragging rights, the triumph also brought financial rewards. Rayon Sports received US$30,000 in prize money as champions, while Sudan’s Al Hilal earned US$10,000 after defeating South Sudan’s Jamus 2-1 in the third-place playoff. Among the jubilant supporters was Steven Murengerantwari, who said the tournament had placed enormous pressure on everyone associated with the club, particularly the fans. “There was a lot of pressure on the whole club, especially us supporters,” he said. “We are happy, more than happy. I feel like I can dance from now until morning. This is a huge achievement for us.” Another long-time supporter, Claude Muhawenimana, described the victory as a special moment for the entire Rayon Sports family. “This is something we desperately needed,” Muhawenimana said. “It will open doors to greater opportunities and help attract quality players to the club.” “Let’s enjoy this moment and celebrate again and again.” K’Ogalo’s CECAFA jinx continues For Gor Mahia, the defeat extended their wait for regional success. The Kenyan giants have now lost back-to-back CECAFA Kagame Cup finals and remain without a regional title since 1985.
