Donadei quits Rayon ahead of APR clash

Rayon Sports head coach David Donadei has resigned barely two months since he took charge. The Frenchman, who joined the Nyanza-based club in September on a one-year deal, quit on Wednesday ahead of Rayon Sports’ biggest league game of the season against archrivals APR set for Sunday at Amahoro stadium. While addressing a press conference held outside the French embassy in Kigali to announce his departure, Donadei said, “I am leaving my job as Rayon Sports head coach with immediate effect.” Asked to clarify why he’s leaving the job barely two months into a one-year contract, he said, “I have not been paid my salary and bonus since I arrived here (five matches).” Full of emotions and struggling to hold back tears, Donadei went ahead, “Goodbye to my players whom I love so much. Try to stay strong and win the match against APR; I know they are good and capable of (winning on Sunday). For me I am leaving this club for good.” Donadei becomes the latest coach to leave Rayon Sports unceremoniously in a space of two years — first was Didier Gomes da Rosa, who left after guiding the club to the 2013 league title, their first in near nine years. Gomes was replaced by Belgium Luc Eymael, who stayed for just six months before he resigned after he had been banned for two years and fined Rwf0.5m by Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA). Another Belgian, Jean François Losciuto took over and didn’t last even three months before leaving to take up other assignments in Burkina Faso, and Sosthène Habimana, a former Rayon Sports player, was appointed on a temporally deal before Congolese Andy Mfutila took over. However, things didn’t work out well for the former APR tactician and he was replaced by Jean Baptiste Kayiranga, who was in charge until end of last season when Donadei took charge. Donadei’s early departure from Rayon Sports came a day after the club management had suspended him for the APR game on Sunday. According to the Rayon Sports secretary general, Olivier Gakwaya, the Frenchman was suspended because of indiscipline and inciting players to strike ahead of APR game. “It’s true the coach (Donadei) will not be allowed on the training ground for a certain period and will not be in charge of the match against APR, on top of other internal penalties,” Gakwaya said on Tuesday. Sosthène will take charge of the club on a temporary basis, beginning with Sunday’s clash until a new coach is appointed. It is not the first time in Rwanda football that a coach has been suspended by his club — in February this year, APR suspended their head coach Andreas Spier for five matches following his ‘unbecoming behaviour’ during the goalless draw against AS Kigali in a league match. SC Kiyovu also sacked coach Ali Bizimungu after the club management accused him of going on local radios to talk about internal affairs of the club without permission. editorial@newtimes.co.rw