We will bounce back, says Rayon coach

Rayon Sports coach Olivier Karekezi believes his side will bounce back from the disappointment of collecting a solitary point from the last two Azam Rwanda Premier League matches. The defending champion lost 1-0 against Etincelles last Wednesday and drew 1-1 with league new entrants Miroplast FC on Sunday. Rayon Sports are in fourth place after winning their postponed games against Police FC 1-0 and Amagaju FC 1-0. “We haven’t done very well in the last two games, but we will bounce back because it is still early in the season, we hope to return to winning ways when the league resumes after CHAN. In January we will work hard to reinforce the team,” Karekezi told Times Sport. The former Rwanda international revealed that he is looking to strengthen his squad with four new players in January. Karekezi didnt want to mention the names because negotiations are still ongoing but he said that the four include a defender, a midfielder and a forward from DR Congo as well as a striker from Zambia. We are looking to sign up to four players to strength the team because we have many competitions including CAF Champions League as well as the national league and Peace Cup. Right now, I can’t give details of the players we’re in talks with,” Karekezi said. The former APR FC captain noted that they expect to get clearance for Malian forward Ismaila Diarra, who failed to get the International Certificate Transfer from DR Congo side DC Motema Pembe before the start of the season. Karekezi, in his first season as coach, also disclosed that they plan to promote a couple of junior players to the senior team. SC Kiyovu lead the table with 20 points, followed by AS Kigali with 18, while Rayon Sports are in fifth place with 15 points same as Sunrise, Police FC and Mukura Victory Sports. After match-day 10 fixtures, the league will take a break to allow the national team to take part in CHAN 2018 finals in Morocco from January 12 through February 4. Amavubi will hold a ten-day training camp in Tunisia from January 2 to 11 before connecting to Morocco. The Rwandan delegation to CHAN will depart for Tunisia on New Year to start preparations ahead of their opening Group C encounter against 2014 champions Libya on January 15 in Tangier. Amavubi will also face Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea in the group. editorial@newtimes.co.rw