Kwibuka23: Rayon to pay homage to ex-players, staff

As the country continues to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Rayon Sports, one of the oldest football and most supported clubs in the country, are set to hold their maiden remembrance event in honour of their former players, staff and fans killed during the 1994 tragedy. The Peace Cup holders lost over 27 players and staff as well as thousands of fans during the 100-day killings. According to the club secretary general Olivier Gakwaya, the event will be held in the course of the a hundred days of mourning, that comes to the climax on July 3. He however did not divulge the exact dates for the event. “We are still updating the list of the (Rayon Sports associated) victims, what we have got so far isn’t the final list because there are many of our staff that lost their lives and once we are done with that, that’s when we shall sit down and set a date but it will be during these 100 days of remembrance,” Gakwaya told Times Sport on Monday According to the information hitherto gathered, the former Nyanza based club lost 12 players and 15 members of staff. “Previously, as a club we have been visiting Genocide memorial sites to pay our respects but going forward we are looking into the possibility of making our commemoration an annual event,” he added. Rayon Sports was founded in May 1968 in the present-day Nyanza District in the Southern Province, before it moved to the nation’s capital Kigali in 1986. Later, in 2012, Rayon returned to Nyanza following an agreement with the district authorities but again moved back to Kigali in 2014. They have won the national league title seven titles (1975, 1981, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2013) and are on the brink of winning this season’s title. The Blues also boast nine Rwanda Cup (now Peace Cup) titles (1976, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2005 and 2016) and one regional CECAFA title, which they won in 1998 in Zanzibar to become the first Rwandan club to win a regional title outside the country. List of players killed in 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi 1. Innocent Kalisa2. Charles Kayombya3. Longin Munyurangabo 4. Anastase Buregeya (Masaka)5. Abba Hatangimana 6. Francois Kamali 7. Wellars Mugwaneza 8. Raphael Murekezi (Fatikaramu) 9. Theodate Gakwaya 10. Cahrles Alias Belgo Gatwa 11. Twahirwa Twaha12. Sefu Staff 1. Marcel Ramutsa 2. Benoit Mujejende 3. Carpophore Gatera 4. Janvier Rutagambwa 5. Anatole Ngizwenayo 6. Vianney Gatari (Terrible)7. Justin, Viateur Niyongira8. Selesi Kayombya 9. Jean Pierre Ntaganira 10. Ignace Rulinda 11. Fidele Mutaganda 12. Oscar Gasana 13. Aloys Muhikira 14. Dr. Jean Marie Rudasingwa15. Nsengiyumva Fans 1. Nyamwasa Francois2. Innocent Gusenga editorial@newtimes.co.rw