Ferwafa to look into match-fixing claims

AMAVUBI Stars assistant coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira last week made a shocking revelation that he was involved in match-fixing during his time as SC Kiyovu coach.In a heated news conference that lasted over four hours on Friday to announce his departure from Rayon Sports, the former APR and Atraco coach revealed that in 2009 he bribed Rayon players through a one Issa Baritonda to throw away a league match against Kiyovu.Now, the national football governing body, Ferwafa, has taken interest in Ntagwabira’s disclosure and according to the federation Chief Executive Officer, Michel Gasingwa, the issue will be on the agenda for discussion during their next weekly meeting.However, Gasingwa was non committal on whether the Amavubi coach, who is now out of work after ending his one-year reign with Rayon, would be sanctioned for what is believed to be a criminal offence.“The (Ferwafa) executive has just returned from a retreat where we discussed potential changes to our laws. Unfortunately, I have not heard what Ntagwabira said, but we have weekly meetings and that issue will definitely be discussed,” Ferwafa’s CEO told Times Sport by phone on Monday.In a no-holds barred interview with sports journalists, Ntagwabira said he gave Baritonda, an influential Rayon fan at the time, money which he passed on to the players, and he got what he wanted a win.“I was really desperate for a win (in 2009) when I was coaching Kiyovu, so I bribed Rayon Sport players so they play poorly and we beat them 3-2,” he admitted.After that match, infuriated Rayon Sports fans, according to an eye witness threw water bottles full of urine in the direction of the then Blues coach Baptiste Kayiranga, who resigned soon after.Efforts to get hold of Baritonda since the story broke have proved futile.Ntagwabirwa also denied allegations by a section of Rayon fans that he recently took a Rwf1m bribe from APR in his side’s 3-1 first leg loss in the MTN Peace Cup semi-final clash. The Blues also lost 1-0 in the second leg.Ntagwabira’s shock revelations of match-fixing will surely taint the image of Rwanda’s football and raise debate on what extent the scourge has affected the most popular sport in the country.During the 2009 season, Kiyovu finished third, behind champions APR and Etincelles, who had initially finished third but were promoted to second after the Atraco’s withdrawal from the league.But questions will be asked regarding how significant was Kiyovu’s ‘fixed’ 3-2 win over Rayon Sport and also how many other matches may have been fixed.Ntagwabira becomes the first high profile person to come out and admit to being involved in match-fixing at a time when the world of football is fighting the vice that has blighted even the biggest leagues including Italy’s Serie A and the Turkish Premier League.However, the biggest question of them all will be, what if Ferwafa fails to follow up on these damning allegations, what will happen? Will the Police pick interest and make their own investigations?