Rayon clear Gomes’ arrears ahead of APR FC crunch tie

RAYON SPORTS came out rushing on Sunday night to clear most of the outstanding dues it owes head coach Didier Gomes da Rosa just hours after the French tactician threatened to throw in the towel.The payment also came just seven days before the league champions could take on archrivals APR FC in a mouth-watering encounter.Rayon secretary general Olivier Gakwaya told Times Sports yesterday that the league champions had cleared Gomes da Rosa’s arrears save for the salary of October.“On Sunday night, we cleared outstanding dues amounting to Rwf3.3 million (September salary and match bonuses). What is remaining is his salary for the month of October (Rwf2m) which will also be cleared soon,” Gakwaya explained.The development came in the wake of Gomes da Rosa’s public frustrations over his employers’ failure to clear the arrears, which included salaries for two months and match bonuses.Speaking to journalists shortly after seeing his side edge Mukura Victory Sports 1-0 at Amahoro stadium on Sunday, Gomes da Rosa said he was owed Rwf5, 026,438.In his post-match comments, the coach appeared reluctant to discuss the issue in detail, but gave hints that he could consider quitting the Nyanza-based side which he guided to the national league crown last season after nearly a decade of dry spell.“I wouldn’t want to comment further because I love Rayon Sports, the players and the fans, and I do respect the club officials,” he said.But he added, “I’m the coach of Rayon Sports but there are times when you have to think twice about certain things.”To many, that was a hint to possible resignation by the man who led the country’s arguably most popular club to the league title in his first year at the helm of the Blues, a message that was not taken lightly by the Nyanza District-sponsored club, thus the rush to settle some of the dues.When Rayon moved from Kigali back to its original home in Nyanza, it saw a quick turnaround in its fortunes, almost quickly rediscovering its traditionally free-flowing football, with players showing more commitment and salaries paid on time, thus ending cases of AWOL that had plagued the team for some years.The team completed a 360-degree turn when it lifted the National Football League title for the first time in nine good years, finally dislodging archrivals APR FC, who have dominated the league in the last decade, and keeping ambitious Police FC at bay.However, in recent days there have been concerns that Rayon, now in the second place with 16 points, two behind leaders AS Kigali in the Turbo King Football League, are yet again showing signs of the same troubles that nearly pushed them into oblivion just a few years ago.There are growing claims of player frustrations over unpaid dues, as well as resurging cases of indiscipline.Key strikers Samson Jakesh and Papy Kamanzi (Kambale Salita) have both recently left the Blues over unpaid dues or indiscipline.Jakesh, who had joined Rayon from Uganda Revenue Authority, left his new club last Tuesday over unpaid balance worth Rwf1 million, which was part of his recruitment fee. He had initially received Rwf3 million.Kamanzi abandoned the team’s base mid last month after he was sidelined because of an injury he sustained in the game against AS Muhanga.He is said to have joined Congolese side AS Vita.But Rayon also have several players laid off due to other reasons.They include influential defender Faustin Usengimana, who will be out of action for some time after breaking his leg in the opening match of the season over a month ago.The news that Rayon have now cleared most of Gomes da Rosa’s arrears will come as a relief to the team’s fans and probably a boost to the players in time for their showdown with APR at the weekend.Both sides will be looking to bag all three points to make a statement early on in the season.