Kigali: The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) announces that KIYOVU SC has accepted its invitation to replace Rayon Sports FC in the upcoming Ubutwari Football Tournament due to start this Saturday 0n 25 January 2020.
Earlier today, Rayon Sports FC notified FERWAFA about its withdrawal from the competition citing lack of an effective squad.
The decision to include SC Kiyovu in the tournament is based on article 1 of the competition regulations.
Initially, early this month (January 7, 2020), all participating members were given a draft copy of the competition regulations for which they were asked to provide their inputs and comments before a signed copy of the regulations were dispatched to every club on January 15, 2020.
It is at this point that, on 08th January 2020 Rayon Sports requested to have the regulations amended and include at least five foreign players but they were replied and given explanations in that respect.
Therefore, on 09th January 2020 in the same correspondence Rayon Sports admitted and vowed that, the competition rules with regards to number of foreign players eligible to play in Ubutwari Tournament should remain in compliance with the existing FERWAFA Competition Regulations.
On 15th January 2020, the signed copy of the tournament regulations was communicated to all concerned clubs whereby Rayon Sports raised again the same issue on which all parties had agreed in the aforementioned correspondences.
Additionally, FERWAFA could not consider that comment while it was provided after the communicated deadline for clubs inputs which was 10th January 2020.
Surprisingly, on 23rd January 2020 two days before the Kickoff of the said tournament, Rayon Sports FC wrote to FERWAFA submitting a new request relating to permitting their unlicensed players to take part in the tournament.
After different considerations and deep analysis on the Rayon Sports request this request was rejected. On 24th January 2020, Rayon Sports FC withdrew from the competition stating lack of effective squad to compete in the tournament.
FERWAFA takes this opportunity to inform the public that Ubutwari Tournament will be staged as scheduled under the set regulation. (Fin)