Rayon Sports in talks with five coaches

Rayon Sports are in talks with five coaches for the position of head coach for the Nyanza-based club ahead of the 2015/16 season that starts on September 18, according to the club secretary-general Olivier Gakwaya. Although Gakwaya declined to give details of the five candidates, Times Sport understands that, among the candidates are four of their former coaches; Didier Gomes Rosa, Raoul Shungu, Luc Eymael and Jean Baptiste Kayiranga, as well as Cedrick Kaze, former Mukura Victory Sports coach. He said, “We are in talks with five coaches who are capable of turning Rayon Sports into a winning side, but I can’t give away a lot of information until there is something more concrete from the talks.” “Our fans should be patient as we look for the right man for the job because these talks are not as straight-forward as some may think; however, we will let them know the outcome as soon as possible. We are doing everything possible to get a coach before the new season begins,” Gakwaya said. When contacted, yesterday, Kayiranga, who was interim head coach last season but his one-year contract has since run out, admitted Rayon Sports managers had contacted him but nothing had been agreed. Frenchman Gomes, 45, led Rayon Sports to the 2012/2013 league title, their first since 2004. Shungu is widely regarded as Rayon’s most successful coach in the club’s history after guiding them to the 1999 CECAFA Club championship title and three league titles – in 1997, 1998 and 2002 – but the Congolese tactician’s relationship with the club hit an all time low following his latest stint at the club, dragging the blues to Fifa for unpaid wages. Kayiranga guided Rayon Sports to 2004 league title and 2005 Peace Cup glory, while Belgian Luc Eymael lasted less than five months in the hot seat before he resigned having been banned for two years by Ferwafa for allegedly inciting violence during a league game between Rayon Sports and AS Kigali in April last year. Burundian Kaze did little during his short spell in charge of the Huye-based Mukura and he would be an outside bet to take the job that will require the new man in charge to be given a sizable transfer kitty to strengthen the squad if Rayon Sports are to be genuine league title contenders. editorial@newtimes.co.rw