A highly anticipated Peace Cup semifinal match between Mukura Victory Sports and Rayon Sports was abandoned on Tuesday afternoon at Huye Stadium after a power failure interrupted play just 27 minutes into the game.
In a letter addressed to the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), Mukura Victory Sports has detailed the technical issue that caused the disruption, explaining that the generator at the stadium failed despite prior preparations.
The match, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 15, was already underway when floodlights began to flicker and eventually went off, forcing the match commissioner to halt the game. According to Mukura officials, the club had fulfilled all its obligations, including procuring and delivering fuel four hours ahead of kickoff.
Despite brief efforts to resume play, the commissioner eventually called off the match. Mukura players reportedly remained on the field as the stadium was plunged into darkness.
“The Ministry of Sports, which manages Huye Stadium, had deployed a technician to operate the generator. Unfortunately, the lights failed mid-match and could not be restored in time,” said Musoni Protasis, Managing Director of Mukura Victory Sports, in the letter.
In accordance with competition regulations, Rayon Sports FC has been awarded a 3-0 victory by forfeit.
However, a new concern has emerged: fans who had paid for tickets were left in limbo.
As of now, no official communication has been issued by either Mukura Victory Sports, Rayon Sports, FERWAFA, or the Ministry of Sports regarding refunds or compensation for the abruptly halted match. This has sparked frustration among supporters who traveled and paid to watch the game.
Mukura Victory Sports has urged authorities to investigate the cause of the failure, emphasizing that the problem was beyond the club’s control.
FERWAFA has yet to issue a public statement on whether disciplinary measures will follow or how the situation with fans will be handled.
