Gor set for Rayon Sports friendly ahead of Kagame Cup

According to Gor Mahia administrative manager Ronald Ngala, the fixture will mark Rayon Sports' official season launch and Gor has accepted to be part of the event.

“We have received an invite from Rayon Sports for a friendly match to be staged in Kigali on July 18. This will mark their annual ‘Rayon Day’ celebrations, and as I speak, we have accepted to honour the invitation,” said Ngala.

Ngala further revealed that the tour will also earn the Kenyan champions a lucrative appearance fee courtesy of the Rwandan club. All expenses, including travel, accommodation, and allowances will be paid by the hosts.

“We are going to earn handsomely. There is prize money in that invite and this will go a long way in helping Gor in their future preparations.’’

Ryon Sports finished fourth in the Rwandese top tier league last season behind Al Hilal, APR and Al Merrikh while Gor claimed the league title they lost in the previous season in Kenya’s FKF Premier League.

Meanwhile, Ngala added that Gor Mahia are likely to remain in Rwanda after the friendly to fine-tune their preparations for the CECAFA Kagame Cup, which kicks off in Kigali on July 24.

“The regional club championships, The Kagame Cup will only be 6 days away from the Ryon day, and so we are comparing notes as to whether to travel back home and again back to Rwanda or simply hold back in Rwanda to wait for the 24th July kick off,’’ added Ngala

Kogalo last lifted the CECAFA Club Championship—now known as the Kagame Cup—in 1985, when they defeated AFC Leopards 2-0 in an all-Kenyan final played in Khartoum, Sudan.

The friendly match will also be used to test new signings following the release of a number of players in their 2025-2026 squad.

The players released include shot stopper Mathew Gad, left back and vice-captain Geoffrey Ochieng ‘Simiti’, Christopher Ochieng, Fidel Orifa alongside last season’s MVP Enock Morrison among others.

Gor is still reluctant to officially unveil their new signings even though the list of released players has been made public.

The first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League will be held between September 4 and 6 with the return fixtures scheduled for September 11-13.

Gor remain the only team from the CECAFA region to have lifted an African title, doing so in 1987 when they lifted the then ‘Nelson Mandela Cup’ after beating Tunisian side Esperance in a two-legged final.