Rayon Sports F.C.

Rayon Sports FC

Full name	Rayon Sports Football Club
Nickname(s)	Gikundiro (The Adorable One)
Founded	May 1965
Ground	Kigali Pelé Stadium[1] Kigali, Rwanda
Capacity	22,000
Manager	Roberto Oliveira Gonçalves do Carmo
League	Rwanda Premier League
2023–24	1st
Website	https://www.rayonsports.rw/
Home colours Away colours

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]

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 SEN Khadim ndiaye(42)

2. GK BUR patient

DEFENDERS

3. LB RWA ganijuru elie

4. CD SEN Youssou Diagne

5. CD RWA Nsabimana Aimable

6. RB RWA Omborega Fitina

7. CD SEN Omar gning

8. LB RWA Hakim Bugingo

9. RB RWA Serumogo Ali

Midfielders

10. CAM Kevin Muhire (Captain)

11. DMF RWA Mugisha Francois

12.DMF BUR Aruna Mousa Madjaliwa

13.CM RWA kanamugire roger

14. CDM RWA Seif

15. CAM BUR Rukundo abdoulhaman papley

16. CM BUR Richard

Strikers

17. CF UGA Charles Bbale

18. RW/LW RWA IRADUKUNDA PASCAL

19. CF RWA Rudasingwa Prince

20. RW RWA Iraguha Hadji

21. RW MALI Adama Bagayogo

22. LW CAMEROUN Aziz bassane

23. LW Congo Brazzaville Elenga Kenga Prince jr

24. CF SEN Fall gagne

Staff

• Head coach: Roberto Oliveira Gonçalves do Carmo BRA
• Assistant Coach :Quanane Sellami TUN
• Goalkeeper coach: MAZIMPAKA André RWA
• Fitness coach: LEBITSA AYABONGA RSA
• Doctor: Mugemana Charles RWA
• Team Manager : MUJYANAMA Fidèle RWA
• Kit manager : Claude RWA

Notable coaches

• Longin Rudasingwa (1995–2000)
• René Kalimunda (2007–2008)
• 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)
• Juma Masudi (2016–2017)
• Karekezi Olivier (2017–2018)
• Ivan Minnaert (2018)
• Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo (2018–)
• Javier Martinez Espinosa (September 2019 – December 2019)
• Casa Bungo André (December 2019 – May 2020)
• Guy Bukasa (May 2020 – 2022)
• Haringingo Francis (2022–2023)

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