The world football governing body, Fifa, has threatened to punish Rayon Sport for failing to pay former coach Raoul Shungu arrears amounting to U$ 30,000 (approximately Frw 19.9m).

After several failed attempts to get the attention of the Primus League side, Shungu, who now coaches FC Saint Eloi Lupopo in the DRC, decided to take the case to Fifa who have since ordered the Blues to pay up or risk being relegated to the second division on top of other penalties.

Reacting to Fifa’s ruling, Rayon’s Secretary General Olivier Gakwaya yesterday said that the club had asked Shungu to fly in to discuss payment plans.

“He (Shungu) has been very cooperative and we thank him for that. He is expected to fly to Kigali to discuss how we shall pay him,” Gakwaya said.

“We believe we can pay the arrears in three installments at most and we are asking fans to turn up in big numbers for this weekend’s Primus League clash with Mukura.”

Shungu is considered by many as Rayon’s most successful coach after guiding the club to the Cecafa Club championship in 1998 and three league titles in 1997, 1998 and 2002.

Between 2004 and 2008, Shungu served as the national technical director for the Seychelles football federation. He returned to the Blues towards the end of 2008 but his stay was short-lived after falling out with the club’s hierarchy.

At the time, the club management blamed irreconcilable differences for his exit.