Rayon can’t sack Shungu

Raoul Shungu’s job as Rayon Sports coach is presumably very safe since no one at the club has got the balls to sack him, Times Sport has reliably established.

According to a reliable club insider, Shungu is ‘untouchable’ because the moment he leaves, most club fans will follow him out and that’s the worst case scenario that Rayon would wish to be in.

"Shungu has the safest job in the league. He’s everything for Rayon and vice versa, the source, who preferred to remain anonymous revealed over the weekend.

He added, "No one among the club administrators has the bravery to sack him because they’re aware of the fact that the moment he steps out, the majority of the fans will go with him (never to attend club matches again).”

The Congolese tactician is the club’s most successful coach, having guided them to three league titles and one Cecafa club championship, a record that has made him an idol and hero for the fans. Rayon faithful see him as their messiah.

Rayon have not won the league since Shungu led them to the 2004 title before he walked out on them for greener pastures in the Seychelles and it was the fans’ demands and pressure that the club brought him back last season.

Despite his return for a third spell, Rayon failed to win anything, finishing third in the league behind Atraco and APR and were also beaten by Atraco in the semifinal of Amahoro Cup.

No pressure

And things are not looking pretty good for him and the club this campaign. The blues are already six points off the pace having drawn three and won one of their opening four league fixtures.

Yet the man, regarded by some fans as the best tactician in the league remains unmoved by his team’s current form. Asked if his team’s league position coupled with the fans’ demands have put more pressure on his job, his answer was a confident, "No”.

He said, "I’m not under any kind of pressure from anyone. Why would I feel the pressure anyway?

"I have been in this coaching business for 20 years and have never been under pressure and I honestly don’t think it’s going to start now,” Shungu told Times Sport after his team’s 1-1 draw with archrivals APR on Sunday in Muhanga.

He added, "We’ve played against a very good team yet we could have won this match had my strikers been more lethal in-front of goal.”

Tanzanian striker Joseph Kaniki was a constant threat for APR defenders throughout and could have opened his Rayon account on two occasions at the start of the second half had it not been for the timely intervention by substitute Arafat Serugendo, who came on for the injured Ismail Nshutinamagara.

Marines are second with ten and Electrogaz completes the top four on seven points.

If Shungu is not feeling the pressure, it’s pretty obvious that his APR counterpart, Rene Feller is but would not admit it as yet.

After the drab draw, the Dutchman said, "I give Rayon compliment for the way they played. They tried to attack and also defended well.”

"But the poor ground made it hard for my players to play their normal game. We tried to pass the ball around but the ground couldn’t allow us, none the less, we’ve lost two vital points but can still catch (with Atraco),” Feller acknowledged.

Ends