Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rayon Sports have 33 minutes to turn Bugesera FC’s 2-0 lead around to keep their title hopes alive as they pair square off again at Bugesera Stadium on Wednesday, May 21.
The match will be played behind closed doors. Only the members of the media and club’s officials are allowed to follow the match which had been postponed due to security issues amid fans’ riot sparked by referee Patrick Ngaboyisonga’s controversial officiating over the weekend.
Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire was among a number of people in the sports world who condemned the fan behaviors, promising that her office would look into the matter.
Rwanda FA later issued a statement, ruling that the match would resume on Wednesday, May 21, “starting from the 57th minute, the point at which it was halted, with the same scoreline, team compositions, match venue and match officials.”
Rayon will also play their remaining league matches behind closed doors.
Before Saturday’s match, Rayon Sports had written to the FA questioning the integrity of referee Ngaboyisonga who had an unresolved complaint filed by Vision FC filed accusing him of unfair officiating during their 2-1 loss to Marines FC on May 10.
But the federation maintained the referee for the match but all that followed in Bugesera was drama which ended in the match postponement.
With the game now set to be played behind closed doors, Rayon Sports head coach Thaddée Twagirayezu said his club won’t appeal FERWAFA’s decision and will play the rest of the match as ruled.
“We will comply with what they asked us to do. It is true that we are satisfied, I think there is no problem with it,” he said.
Initially, Bugesera FC president Jean Claude Gahigi had warned that Bugesera wouldn’t accept a replay in case FERWAFA bothers to overturn their current 2-0 score. However, with the score maintained, the decision was welcomed with both hands.
“We are happy because it is a good decision which is reflecting to both teams. So what we are now focusing on is the game no the decision and we are ready to fight,” Gahigi said.
“We have shown how good we are, so we are going to fight until the end of the match. We scored two goals and we believe that there’s more to come,” he added.
Bugesera FC sit in 12th place with 31 points while Rayon Sports trail in second place with 59 points, two points behind league leaders APR FC who beat Gorilla FC through Djibril Ouattara’s penalty.
Bugesera FC are a win away from securing their topflight status and head coach Camarade Banamwana said that beating Rayon would help them get the job done.
“The decisions are not biased, each side among us has an opportunity. It’s not over yet because we scored two goals in such a short period of time, it’s possible that they can score four,” Banamwana said
“Nothing is impossible in football. We will go looking for a third goal because, if we score, Rayon Sports will be out of the game. We will work together as a team and make sure we get early goal again which can take them out of the game, we want these three points because they will lift us out of a bad situation,” He added
Rayon have not win the league since 2019.
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