Rayon Sports F.C.

{{Short description|Rwandan football club}} {{Infobox football club | nickname = Gikundiro (The Adorable One) | ground = Kigali Pelé Stadium<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/rwanda/rayon-sports/3895/|title=Rwanda – Rayon Sports FC – Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news – Soccerway}}</ref><br />Kigali, Rwanda | capacity = 22,000 | season = 2024–25 | pattern_la1 = _Rayonsports1819h | pattern_b1 = _Rayonsports1819h | pattern_ra1 = _Rayonsports1819h | pattern_sh1 = _Rayonsportsffffff | pattern_so1 = _3_stripes_white | leftarm1 = 0000FF | body1 = 0000FF | rightarm1 = 0000FF | shorts1 = 0000FF | socks1 = 0000FF | pattern_la2 = _Rayonsports1819a | pattern_b2 = _Rayonsports1819a | pattern_ra2 = _Rayonsports1819a | pattern_sh2 = _Rayonsports1819a| | pattern_so2 = _3_stripes_blue | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = FFFFFF | clubname = Rayon Sports FC | image = | fullname = Rayon Sports Football Club | founded = May 1965 | manager = haringingo francis | league = Rwanda Premier League | position = 2nd | website = {{URL|https://www.rayonsports.rw/}} }} '''Rayon Sports Football Club''' is an association football club from Nyanza, '''Southern province''', Rwanda, now based in Kigali. The team currently competes in the Rwanda National Football League, and plays its home games at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali and Kigali Pele Stadium, Nyamirambo. For some years, its daily operations were held in the southern province in Nyanza District.<ref name="rayonsportsfc">[http://www.rayonsportsfc.com/histo.html Historique de l'équipe] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> They've won 9 Rwandan Premier League titles, the 2nd most Premier League titles. Throughout its history, the club has won 9 Rwandan Cups, 1 CECAFA Clubs' Cup, 9 peace Cups, 3 Agaciro Cups, 2 Intwali Cups and a Kigali 100 Years' Cup and 1 Father Fraipont memorial tournament.The club is nicknamed GIKUNDIRO, which means 'the favorites.' It boasts the largest fanbase in the country, with over 80% of Rwandans, or more than 8 million people, supporting Rayon Sports.

== History == The club was founded in May 1968 in Nyanza, but moved to the nation's capital, Kigali, in 1986 before moving back in 2012 following an agreement with the Nyanza District authorities. Gikundiro spent few months in Nyanza and returned to Kigali where it is based currently. <ref name="rayonsportsfc" /> In 2012, the club also absorbed Nyanza Football Club, which was relegated from the Rwanda National Football League after the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umuseke.rw/rayon-sport-na-nyanza-fc-zifatanyije-zatangiye-imyitozo-nibikoresho-bicye/ |title=Rayon Sport na Nyanza FC zifatanyije zatangiye imyitozo n'ibikoresho bicye |date=13 August 2012 |language=rw |publisher=Umuseke.rw |access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>

== Honours == === Domestic competitions === *'''Rwanda National Football League: 9''' :: 1975, 1981, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2013, 2016–2017, 2018–2019.

*'''Rwandan Peace Cup: 10''' :: 1976, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2005, 2016, 2023.

*'''Rwandan Super Cup: 2''' :: 2017, 2023

=== International === *'''CECAFA Clubs Cup: 1''' :: 1998.

== Performance in CAF competitions ==

*'''CAF Champions League / African Cup of Champions Clubs : 9 appearances''' ::1982 – Preliminary Round ::1998 – First Round ::1999 – Second Round ::2001 – Preliminary Round ::2003 – First Round ::2005 – Preliminary Round ::2014 – Preliminary Round ::2018 – First Round ::2020 – Preliminary Round

*'''CAF Confederation Cup: 4 appearances''' ::2006 – First Round ::2008 – First Round ::2017 – Second Round ::2018 – Quarter Finals

*'''CAF Cup: 2 appearances''' ::1993 – Preliminary Round ::2002 – Quarter-Finals

*'''CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 4 appearances''' ::1990 – First Round ::1994 – Second Round ::1996 – First Round ::2000 – Second Round

== Current squad (2023–24) ==

Goal keepers

1. GK RWF Kwizera Olivier

2. GK BUR patient

DEFENDERS

3. LB RWA ganijuru elie

4. CD SEN Youssou Diagne

5. CD RWA Nsabimana Aimable

6. RB RWA Omborega Fitina

7. CD SEN Omar gning

8. LB RWA Hakim Bugingo

9. RB RWA Serumogo Ali

Midfielders

10. CAM Kevin Muhire (Captain)

11. DMF RWA Mugisha Francois

12.DMF BUR Aruna Mousa Madjaliwa

13.CM RWA kanamugire roger

14. CDM RWA Seif

15. CAM BUR Rukundo abdoulhaman papley

16. CM BUR Richard

Strikers

17.RW/LW RWA IRADUKUNDA PASCAL

18. CF RWA Rudasingwa Prince

19. RW RWA Iraguha Hadji

20. RW MALI Adama Bagayogo

21. LW CAMEROUN Aziz bassane

22. LW Congo Brazzaville Elenga Kenga Prince jr

23. CF SEN Fall gagne

== Staff ==

* Head coach:Bruno Ferry FRA * Assistant Coach :Quanane Sellami TUN * Goalkeeper coach: MAZIMPAKA André RWA * Fitness coach: Hategekimana corneille RWA * vidéo analyste : Hakizimana Emmanuel RWA * Doctor: Mugemana Charles RWA * Team Manager : MUJYANAMA Fidèle RWA * Kit manager : Claude RWA

== Notable coaches ==  *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Longin Rudasingwa (1995–2000) *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} René Kalimunda (2007–2008) *{{flagicon|DR Congo}} Raoul Shungu (2009) *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Tierry Hitimana *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Baptiste Kayiranga *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Fatikaramu *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Kanyankore Gilbert Youndé *{{flagicon|France}} Didier Gomes Da Rosa (2012–2013) *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Jean Marie Ntagwabira *{{flagicon|Belgium}} Luc Eymael *{{flagicon|FRA}} David Donadei *{{flagicon|Belgium}} Ivan Minnaert (2015-2016) *{{flagicon|Burundi}} Juma Masudi (2016–2017) *{{flagicon|Rwanda}} Karekezi Olivier (2017–2018) *{{flagicon|Belgium}} Ivan Minnaert (2018) *{{flagicon|BRA}} Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo (2018–) *{{Flagicon|MEX}} Javier Martinez Espinosa (September 2019 – December 2019) *{{Flagicon|RWA}} Casa Bungo André (December 2019 – May 2020) *{{Flagicon|COD}} Guy Bukasa (May 2020 – 2022) *{{flagicon|Burundi}} Haringingo Francis (2022–2023)

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.rayonsports.rw/}}

Category:Football clubs in Rwanda Category:Association football clubs established in 1968 Category:1968 establishments in Rwanda