Rayon Sports F.C.

Rayon Sports Football Club is an association football club from Nyanza, Southern province, Rwanda, now based in Kigali. The team currently competes in the Rwanda National Football League, and plays its home games at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali and Kigali Pele Stadium, Nyamirambo. For some years, its daily operations were held in the southern province in Nyanza District.^[2] They've won 9 Rwandan Premier League titles, the 2nd most Premier League titles. Throughout its history, the club has won 9 Rwandan Cups, 1 CECAFA Clubs' Cup, 9 peace Cups, 3 Agaciro Cups, 2 Intwali Cups and a Kigali 100 Years' Cup and 1 Father Fraipont memorial tournament. The blues of Rwanda are said to have more than 80% of Football fans in the country, which makes it the most popular team in Rwanda and the only competent citizen-owned club in the country of a thousand hills.^{[citation needed]}

Rayon Sports FC

Full name	Rayon Sports Football Club
Nickname(s)	Gikundiro (The adorable)
Founded	May 1965
Ground	Stade Régional Nyamirambo^[1] Kigali, Rwanda
Capacity	22,000
Chairman	Uwayezu Jean Fidèle
Manager	Julien Mette
League	Rwanda Premier League
2022–23	3rd
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

History

The club was founded in May 1968 in Nyanza, but moved to the nation's capital, Kigali, in 1986 before moving back in 2012 following an agreement with the Nyanza District authorities. Gikundiro spent few months in Nyanza and returned to Kigali where it is based currently. ^[2] In 2012, the club also absorbed Nyanza Football Club, which was relegated from the Rwanda National Football League after the 2011–12 season. ^[3]

Honours

Domestic competitions

• Rwanda National Football League: 9

1975, 1981, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2013, 2016–2017, 2018–2019.

• Rwandan Peace Cup: 10

1976, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2016, 2023.

• Rwandan Super Cup: 2

2017, 2023

International

• CECAFA Clubs Cup: 1

1998.

Performance in CAF competitions

• CAF Champions League / African Cup of Champions Clubs : 9 appearances

1982 – Preliminary Round

1998 – First Round

1999 – Second Round

2001 – Preliminary Round

2003 – First Round

2005 – Preliminary Round

2014 – Preliminary Round

2018 – First Round

2020 – Preliminary Round

• CAF Confederation Cup: 4 appearances

2006 – First Round

2008 – First Round

2017 – Second Round

2018 – Quarter Finals

• CAF Cup: 2 appearances

1993 – Preliminary Round

2002 – Quarter-Finals

• CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 4 appearances

1990 – First Round

1994 – Second Round

1996 – First Round

2000 – Second Round

Current squad (2023–24)

Goal keepers

1. GK RWA Hakizimana Adolphe (22)

2. GK UGA Simon Tamale

3. GK RWA Hategekimana Bonheur (1)

DEFENDERS

5. RB RWA ganijuru elie

6. CD RWA Mitima Isaac (23)

7. CD RWA Nsabimana Aimable

9.LB RWA Mujyanama Fidele

10.CD RWA Ngendahimana Eric (8)

11.RB RWA Hakim Bugingo

Midfielders

12.CM

13.DMF RWA Mugisha Francois (15)

14.DMF RWA Manishimwe Eric (14)

15

16.DMF BUR Aruna Mousa Madjaliwa

17.CM RWA kanamugire roger (5)

18.CAM RWA ndekwe Felix (17)

19.CAM RWA IRAGUHA HADJI (29)

20.

Strikers

21.CF UGA Charles Bbale (9)

22

23.RW/LW RWA IRADUKUNDA PASCAL (21)

24.AM MORR Youssef Rharb (10)

25.RW

26.L

27.RW RWA TUYISENGE Arsene (19)

28.CF RWA Rudasingwa Prince (27)

Staff

• Head coach: Julien mette TUN
• Assistance Coach : Rwaka Claude RWA
• Goalkeeper coach: Kalisa Calliopie RWA
• Fitness coach: LEBITSA AYABONGA RSA
• Doctor: Mugemana Charles RWA
• Team Manager : Adrien RWA
• Kit manager : Claude RWA

Notable coaches

•   name N/A (19??–85)
•   Longin Rudasingwa (1995–00)
•   René Kalimunda (2007–08)
•   Raoul Shungu (2009)
•   Tierry Hitimana
•   Baptiste Kayiranga
•   Fatikaramu
•   Kanyankore Gilbert Youndé
•   Didier Gomes Da Rosa (2012–2013)
•   Jean Marie Ntagwabira
•   Luc Eymael
•   David Donadei
•   Ivan Minnaert (2015-2016)
•   Masudi Djuma (2016–2017)
•   Karekezi Olivier (2017–2018)
•   Ivan Minnaert(2018)
•   Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo (2018–)
•   Javier Martinez Espinosa ( September 2019 To December 2019)
•   Casa Bungo André (December 2019 to May 2020)
•   Guy Bukasa (May 2020 to 2022)
•   Haringingo Francis(2022 to 2023)

References

1. "Rwanda – Rayon Sports FC – Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news – Soccerway".
2. Historique de l'équipe (in French)
3. "Rayon Sport na Nyanza FC zifatanyije zatangiye imyitozo n'ibikoresho bicye" (in Kinyarwanda). Umuseke.rw. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2014.

External links

• Official website