Angry Rayon players abandon training

MTN Peace cupTodayPolice vs Marines (Agg 5-1)Sec Academy vs APR(Agg 1-3)Rayon vs Kiyovu (Agg 1-0)As Police and APR look to ease into MTN Peace Cup Semifinals, Rayon Sport’s never ending financial woes are haunting the team for the umpteenth time after players abandoned training yesterday, demanding for their unpaid salaries and bonuses for the month of May.According to one of the players, who preferred to remain anonymous because they are not allowed to talk to journalists on such matters, the players have also decided not to take part in today’s MTN Peace Cup second leg match against SC Kiyovu if the pending issue is not solved.“All of us (players) have decided to not only abandon camp but also boycott tomorrow (today)’s match despite having an advantage. We are fed up with the club’s unfilled promises,” the frustrated player told Sunday Sport.By press time the club administrators was engaged in an emergence closed door meeting with coach Jean Marie Ntwgabirwa, who is also in the same predicament as the players.The Blues have a slim 1-0 advantage over arch rivals Kiyovu but that might count for nothing if the players don’t turn up for the match.Over the years, financial constraints have affected Rayon Sports on and off the field, leading the club going seven seasons without winning any silverware. Meanwhile, defending champions APR take on second division side Sec Academy at Kigali Regional stadium with a 3-1 aggregate and the military side is expected to progress to the semi-finals where they are likely to play last year ‘finalists Police who thrashed Marines 5-1 in the first leg.Goran Kopunovic’s charges play Marines at Mumena artificial turf. The semi finals are due on June 27/28 (first leg) and June 30 and July 1 (second leg).The final and third place playoff will be played on July 4. The winner will represent Rwanda in next year’s CAF Orange Confederation Cup.MTN Rwanda has sponsored the Peace Cup since 2008. The Peace Cup values are also synonymous with government’s vision to promote reconciliation among Rwandans. The winners of the tournament will walk away with Rwf5m, the runners-up and third placed team will get Rwf3 and Rwf2m respectively.