Top flight clubs Marines FC, Etincelles and Rutsiro FC have protested the decision that football governing body (Ferwafa) has taken to suspend Umuganda Stadium from hosting football competitions until further notice. Located in Rubavu District, Western Province, the facility has for years been home to rivals Etincelles and Marine FC before Rutsiro FC joined them since they started playing in the top flight league last season. The three clubs have been hosting their league games at the stadium since the beginning of the 2021/22 season. Unfortunately, FERWAFA requested them to find a new facility where they will be hosting games after Umuganda stadium was suspended from hosting any competitions due to the fact that some parts of the facility were affected by the eruption of Nyiragongo Volcano in May. “It’s against this background that we request you to communicate new venues for your home game as Umuganda Stadium remains suspended from hosting football competitions organized by Ferwafa, including the national football league,” reads part of Ferwafa’s letter addressed to the three teams on November 15. The decision came as a huge blow for the Rubavu-based clubs which were looking forward to capitalising on home advantage while using the Stadium during their match day three of the national football league which resumes Friday. Marine was supposed to host Mukura Victory Sports on Friday, November 19 with Etincelles expected to use the same facility on Sunday, November 21, in a home game against reigning Champions APR FC but they will need to host their games elsewhere after the Ministry of Sports ordered the football governing body to suspend the stadium from hosting competitions. Clubs had until November 17 to have submitted different venues where they will be hosting their home games. However, in a joint response to Ferwafa, the clubs protested the decision claiming that they must be allowed to host their league games at the stadium which they feel is ready to host football competitions and further claimed that they don’t have enough resources to host their home games elsewhere. “After looking into your request, the three teams have jointly recommended that they will be hosting their matches at Umuganda Stadium because they don’t have enough resources to host their matches away from home,” the clubs responded to Ferwafa in a joint letter dated November 17. “Umuganda Stadium was not seriously damaged to the point that it can’t host competitions and the spectators,” the letter further claims. It remains unclear whether Ferwafa will revoke the decision or what the clubs will do should the football governing body decline their appeal.
