Tunisian coach Yamen Zelfani has said that he is joining Rayon Sports to help the club achieve a successful season both domestically and on the continental scene under his stewardship.
READ ALSO: Tunisian Yamen Zalfani appointed Rayon Sports head coach
Zelfani arrived in Kigali on Tuesday morning, July 18, a week after he was appointed Blues new head coach on a one-year-deal, replacing outgoing Burundian coach Francis Haringingo.
Upon arrival, the tactician said, "I’m happy to be here, to coach a big club in Rwanda and the region, I can’t wait for my first training session with the team.”
"I have great ambitions, first with the upcoming Super Cup then we continue with other competitions including CAF Confederation Cup which I have learnt that Rayon has reached the quarter finals in the past few years,” he added.
Rayon returns to the continental stage next season after four years and eyes will be on Zelfani as to whether he can bring a new challenge against African elite clubs during the CAF Confederation Cup.
"I’m an animal at work and I am very demanding. East African football has developed in recent years, last season Yanga Africans played the Confederation Cup final, Simba has also emerged as a big club on the continent, so why can’t a Rwandan team do the same?” he argued.
Zalfani, 43, watched Rayon Sports’ morning training session from the stands before leading the afternoon session, his very first upon arrival.
The experienced coach is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the hot seat at which only a few have managed to leave before they are sacked.
"I have coached other popular clubs like Al-Merrikh of Sudan, Al-Talaba of Iraq and JS Kabylie of Algeria, it is always demanding to coach these popular clubs and it is something that I am used to,” he said.
Rayon Sports, one of the most successful football clubs in Rwanda, hope that, in Zelfani, the club has got the right person who fits in a new era and a coach who can orchestrate the team back to domestic and continental dominance.