Rayon Sport have settled their differences with Olivier Uwingabire and it was agreed in principle that the central defender stays at the club. The 2006/7 league first runner up reached the decision after holding a marathon crisis meeting at Karisimbi restaurant on Thursday. In the same meeting, club executive unanimously rejected Abedi Mulenda’s return to the club after one difficult year with rivals Atraco Fc. Uwingabire has been speculated to be on the verge of joining Atraco because Rayon had failed to give him, what he believes is a deserved pay-rise. The club president Paul Muvunyi told Times Sport by telephone that the defender has agreed to stay at the club after holding a meeting with the club’s administrators. “We have just held a meeting and Uwingabire’s issue has been discussed and resolved in his presence and everything is settled with him,” Muvunyi said on Thursday. Adding that they have agreed on a certain package for him but the package remained confidential. Uwingabire who is among the young up-and-coming players in the country is a product of the club’s junior side who mad his senior debut nearly four years ago. The club management committee rejected Mulenda’s pleas to be welcomed back to his former club and dubbed him “disloyal”. “Mulenda left the club at the time when we (Rayon) were short of good strikers last season and we believe he should stay where he is. We have rejected his return,” Muvunyi said. Mulenda, 28 featured for Atraco Fc last season after failing to agree terms on a new deal with Rayon. His initial contract with the blues had expired in September 2006. Despite rejecting Mulenda, the four-time national league champions are targeting nine new players and releasing seven before the start of next season, the club legal advisor Claver Zitony said on Monday. Rayon along with APR Fc will be Rwanda’s representatives at next year’s Cecafa/Kagame Club championship, Confederation Cup and MTN Champions League respectively. Ends
