There hasn't been any sporting year without controversies and sagas. Rwanda’s sports industry experienced some sagas in 2023 ranging from resignations of sports officials to prosecution of some.
Times Sport takes a look at the top sports sagas in 2023.
1. Resignation of FERWAFA’s top hierarchy
The president of the Rwanda Football Federation Olivier Nizeyimana resigned from his position in April citing "personal reasons" and "lots of work" as his reason.
Henry Muhire, the Secretary General of the Federation also threw in the towel, and he also cited personal reasons.
It is believed that the two had a fall out resulting from a kit supply deal in 2022.
In May 2022, Muhire apparently signed a contract with Masita, a sports gear company, to supply national team kits but he did not inform the federation’s executive committee.
2. FERWACY resignations
Rwanda Cycling Federation(FERWACY) president Abdallah Murenzi and the Executive Director of the federation, Alphonse Nkuranga all resigned in August after being under investigations by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) for nepotism and favouritism in their line of duty.
Murenzi, a former Rayon Sports president, was elected at the helm of FERWACY in 2022 on a four-year term. He spent only a year before quitting the job.
In addition, Benoît Munyankindi, the secretary-general of the federation was also apprehended by RIB over alleged favouritism and forgery. He also resigned.
3. Gisubizo banned for 12 months
The Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) banned APR VC left attacker Merci Gisubizo from all volleyball related activities for one-year after he head-butted his head coach Matthew Rwanyonga during their 3-0 defeat to Police VC on November 18.
He apologized two days later but that did not stop the federation from punishing him.
4. Bayern Munich Academy Rwanda age fixing saga
In September, 20 young footballers were sent home from the Bayern Munich Academy after it came to light that their ages had been fixed.
The young talents were disqualified after the Ministry of Youth and FERWAFA found discrepancies in their age records.
After investigations, it was found out that some of their documents had been forged. This led to the arrest of some officials who allegedly took part in the falsification of the ages of the boys.
A court case is ongoing for the officials implicated in the saga.
5. Alos Ferrer saying goodbye before FERWAFA approval.
In August, former head coach of Amavubi Carlos Alos Ferrer announced his exit from the job before FERWAFA’s approval.
Ferrer who failed to qualify Rwanda to the 2023 AFCON posted a message on his X handle saying goodbye to Rwanda.
FERWAFA officials came out to deny the development, noting that he sent in a request to be released but it had not been granted.
"He asked to leave but the federation has not responded to his request yet," an official of FERWAFA told Times Sport.
"It’s not official yet, but it could be."
FERWAFA released him a week later and he took up the Belarusian national team job.