Rayon Sports Demand Venue Change

Rwandese giants Rayon Sports have asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to change the venue for their Champions League preliminary round second leg with El Hilal Omdurman.

Rayon want the match which is slated for August 25 at the El Hilal Stadium in Sudan be relocated to a neutral venue due to the political situation in Khartoum.

“We are concerned about the security and safety of the team and this is why we are requesting CAF to change the venue because playing in Sudan will be putting at risk the lives of our players,” Rayon spokesperson Jean-Paul Nkurunziza told reporters.

El Hilal have been forced to move their training session away from Khartoum in recent weeks due to safety concerns in the East African country.

“We are not taking this matter lightly because we understand that El Hilal didn’t train from their home stadium ahead of their coming for the first leg which shows it is not safe for a football match,” he added.

Both teams played to a 1-1 draw at Stade de Kigali a fortnight ago in a match that the Blues looked on course for a home victory after Michael Sarpong’s 20th-minute strike but the visitors ensured the game ended level after they equalize six minutes later with a Nazar Hamid Nassir effort.

Rayon Sports secured several chances which could have changed the end result of the game but could not utilize them with Sarpong, Jules Uliwengu and Mugisha Gilbert being the main culprits.

The Blues now will be keen to secure an aggregate victory in the return leg to go through as a goalless draw will see the Sudan giants progressing to the first round.