League clubs protest ban on home grounds by FERWAFA

TodayRayon Sports vs Police FC 6pm SaturdayPepiniere FC vs Mukura VS 3:30pmEtincelles FC vs Gicumbi FCBugesera FC vs SC Kiyovu SundayMarines FC vs Espoir FC 3:30pmSunrise FC vs AS KigaliKirehe FC vs Musanze FCAPR FC vs Amagaju FC Three national league clubs have protested the decision by Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) barring them from hosting matches at their home grounds. Gicumbi FC, Amagaju FC and Sunrise will not host matches at their respective home grounds after they failed to meet the minimum standards, according to FERWAFA. The affected grounds include Nyagatare turf, which is the training ground for Sunrise FC in Eastern Province. Western Province based Gicumbi grounds, which is home to Gicumbi FC is also affected and Nyagisenyi (Nyamagabe) grounds, the turf for Amagaju FC in Southern Province. However, the affected clubs say they have implemented the recommendations of FERWAFA and there is no need for a ban on their home grounds. According to Sunrise FC president, Bosco Ndungutse, his club has implemented the recommendations of FERWAFA and besides the club doesn’t have resources to stay in Kigali. “Last week FERWAFA paid us a visit and found works on the pitch in progress. They told us to change the posts which we are doing. We wrote to FERWAFA to come and inspect the pitch, if they find it in poor condition then they can move our game against AS Kigali and then allow us to play our home match in Nyagatare because our budget doesn’t permit us to play in Kigali,” he explained. Sunrise FC are scheduled to kick off their campaign against AS Kigali on Saturday while Gicumbi start with a trip to Umuganda Stadium to face Etincelles at Umuganda and Amagaju will be up against APR at Kigali Regional Stadium on Sunday. Gicumbi secretary general, Antoine Dukuzimana said, “We have not seen any official report about our pitch and we haven’t been told exactly why we should shift our games to Mumena.” However, FERWAFA spokesperson, Musa Hakizimana, said that the decision was taken after an adhoc committee, which was established to asses match venues, found the three pitches short of minimum standards. Hakizimana said that Amagaju FC will now have to use Huye Stadium, which is normally used by Mukura or Kamena turf, which is located in Huye, while Gicumbi FC and Sunrise FC will be hosting their matches in Kigali. editorial@newtimes.co.rw