Peace Cup champions Rayon Sports will start talks next week with interim head coach Djuma Masudi to assume the job permanently, according to the club officials. Djuma Masudi. Masudi, a former Rayon Sports captain, joined the club last November as assistant coach to Belgian Ivan Minneart, who later cut ties with the club in February this year to join Kenyan side AFC Leopards. Rayon Sport went ahead to appoint Masudi as interim coach until the end of the season. During his five months spell at the club, the former Burundi international proved he can do the job by inspiring the club to their record 9th Peace Cup title after 11 years of waiting, defeating their sworn enemy, APR, 1-0 as well as getting second place in the league. For winning the Peace Cup, Rayon Sports will represent Rwanda in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup while Masudi won the Revelation Coach of the Year award, piping APR’s Tunisian coach Nizar Khanfir and Etincelles FC coach Innocent Seninga, who recently moved to Police FC. Speaking to Times Sport, Rayon Sports secretary general, Olivier Gakwaya, revealed that they have been waiting for Masudi to return from Bujumbura where he has been conducting a CAF A license training that ended last week, before negotiations can begin. “After the end of the season, the management committee sat and carried out evaluation of our campaign, including the coach, which was positive. We are determined to retain him (Masudi) permanently however; it will depend on him,” said Gakwaya. The club has moved fast to renew contracts of some of their key players including; Burundian Pierrot Kwizera, who won the Player of the Year accolade, Malian forward Ismailla Diarra – both signing two-year contracts. Rayon have also signed central defender Abdul Rwatubyaye from archrivals APR FC. Masudi is expected in the country this week and if the negotiations end well and he signs, the team will begin pre-season preparations in a fortnight, according to Gakwaya. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
