Sunrise FC head coach Camalade Banamwana has called on Rwanda Premier League organisers to review the process used to select outstanding players and coaches, arguing that the current system can favour players from the country’s bigger clubs. His comments came after Sunrise FC’s 1-1 draw against Rayon Sports in a Matchday 3 fixture at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, September 18. After the match, Rayon Sports striker Junior Kameni was named Man of the Match after scoring the equaliser in the home side’s 1-1 draw with Sunrise. The decision drew criticism from some football followers who felt a Sunrise player deserved the award after the visitors produced a strong performance against one of the league’s biggest clubs. Banamwana shared that view, questioning the decision and calling for greater fairness in the selection process. “That is simply bias towards a big team. He [Kameni] only took one shot and did not provide an assist,” Banamwana said. The Sunrise coach argued that Jean Petit Nzeyimana, who scored his team’s goal, was a stronger candidate for the award. “If you look at the performance of Jean Petit [Nzeyimana], who scored our goal, he should have been the Man of the Match. There is a tendency to favour players from big teams, while those from smaller clubs do not receive the same recognition when it comes to selecting the best player.” Banamwana said the concerns also extend to the recognition of coaches, recalling his experience last season while in charge of Bugesera FC. “They should review the process and make sure the deserving person is rewarded,” he said. “Last season, when I was at Bugesera FC, I was not included among the top coaches despite the work I had done. Yet a coach whose team finished much lower in the standings was selected. There are issues within the system, but hopefully they will eventually be addressed.” Under the BK Pro League 2026/27 regulations, a player named Man of the Match receives a cash prize of Rwf100,000, which is paid within the first week following the match. The award is determined by a five-member panel comprising football journalists, coaches and former players. Sunrise earned a valuable point away to Rayon Sports, but the result was overshadowed by the debate surrounding the Man of the Match award, with Banamwana’s comments renewing calls for greater transparency and consistency in the league’s recognition process.
