IVAN Jacky Minnaert has signed a three-year contract as Rayon Sports head coach, a deal which will see him at the Nyanza-based club until the end of 2017/2018 season. The Belgian technician who arrived in Rwanda on Thursday night, put pen to paper on Friday evening, Rayon Sports president Denis Gacinya confirmed yesterday. Minnaert. Speaking to Sunday Sport, Gacinya said they have full confidence in the vastly experienced Minnaert to bring back the good old days back to the club. “We are looking forward to working with Minnaert, he is a great coach, and he has expressed his desire to make Rayon Sports more competitive and genuine contenders for trophies. The management will give him all the support he needs in order to succeed,” Gacinya said. He added, “He has a past experience in African football following spells in Mali and Libya, s we believe that it won’t take him long to adapt here.” Replacing Frenchman David Donadei who parted ways with seven-time champions last month, Minnaert becomes the third Belgian coach at Rayon Sports in a space of 18 months following departures of Luc Eymael and Jean Francois Losciuto. Minnaert also becomes the seventh head coach Rayon Sports has had in a period of just two years after Didier Gomez da Rosa (French), Eymael (Belgian), Losciuto (Belgian), Andy Mfutila (Congolese), Jean Baptiste Kayiranga (Rwandan) and Donadei (French). Rayon Sports are on second position with 18 points after nine rounds of Azam Rwanda Premier League matches. Minnaert’s first league game in charge will be against Emmanuel Ruremesha’s Gicumbi FC on December 12.
