National football league leaders and title favourites, Rayon Sports run the risk of losing up to 14 players, who are out of contract at end of the season. This is one of the biggest problems Rayon Sports will be faced with even if they win the league and progress to the lucrative CAF Champions League group stages, as they will need big budget to renew contracts of some of these players. In addition to renewing contracts, the ‘Blues’ will also be required to be active in the transfer market to strengthen the squad with quality players capable of taking the club forward next season. The players whose contracts are running out include; Eric ‘Bakame’ Ndayishimiye, Thierry Manzi, Fiston Munezero, Jean D’Amour Ndacyayisenga, Abouba Sibomana, Dominic Savio Nshuti, Kevin Muhire, Nova Bayama, Olivier Sefu Niyonzima, Mustapha Nsengimana, François Mugisha, Fabricé Bugheni Kakule, Abouba Bashunga and Evaliste Mutuyimana. Goalkeeper and captain, Ndayishimiye, who signed from archrivals APR FC five years ago, is said to want a pay rise to sign a new contract.Manzi signed for Rayon two years ago from Marines and has been key player for Djuma Masudi’s team while the youngsters Nshuti, Muhire, Niyonzima, Nsengimana, Ndacyayisenga and Mugisha signed two years ago from Isonga FC, under Jean Baptiste Kayiranga. Bayama signed as a free agent last year. “You always need to keep your best players, so that’s not my duty alone as coach, the committee needs to find a way to retain some of these players—my work is work with what I am given on the training ground,” head coach Djuma Masudi told Sunday Sport. The former Rayon Sports captain added that, “Nonetheless, we’re not under any pressure to give new contract to every player, we have to wait until end of the season before we do evaluation of the whole squad to see who need or not.” Rayon Sports are on course to winning their 8th league title. The Blues are 11 points clear at the top of the table ahead of second-placed and defending champions APR FC. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
