Rayon, RRA Retain Genocide Memorial Volleyball Tournament Titles

Rayon Sports and Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) retained the Genocide Memorial Tournament titles in the men and women’s categories, after beating APR 3-2 and Nairobi Water 3-0 at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, respectively on Sunday.

This is the second consecutive Genocide Memorial Tournament title for Rayon Sports and head coach Fidele Nyirimana was thankful to his players.

“I am happy with this title and my players gave it everything to win this tournament. It was a tough game but we managed to reduce our mistakes in the last set which helped us retain title,” said the Blues coach.

His APR counterpart, on the other hand, Sammy Mutemi Mulinge, said he was heartbroken. “We have lost to them for the second time (in a final) but this is part of the game. I am thankful to my players who gave everything to win the game.”

The Men’s cup

APR dominated the opening set and were 8-3 at the first technical time out and went on to win it 25-18 thanks largely to the brilliant displays of Theodore Thiambo and Yves Mutabazi in attack and the service of James Ontere and Yves Mutabazi.

Rayon Sports improved their block in the second set, eventually winning it 25-18 thanks mainly to good services by Pierre Marshal Kwizera and good blocks by Guillaume Irakarama, Theogene Tuyishime, Kwizera and Adolphe Mutoni. APR came back strong to win the third set 25-16 inspired by Nelson Murangwa’s spikes and Kwizera’s blocks but Rayon leveled the game after winning the fourth set 25-16.

APR struggled in the decisive set after Rayon Sports dominated with 11-7, but the former managed to rally and make it 11-13, following strong services of Ontere. However, Murangwa rose to the occasion taking Rayon Sports to 14 before Mutabazi ensured his side retained the title.

The contest between the two local rivals was witnessed by a fully packed Amahoro Indoor Stadium with about 2000 fans.

The winners celebrate

Meanwhile, RRA retained their title after beating Nairobi Water 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20), overcoming the Kenyans for the second consecutive time in this tournament.

RRA (women) and Rayon Sports (men) walked away with Rwf500, 000 while second-placed Sport-S and APR received Rwf300, 000 in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively.

Third-placed Nemostars and Vision from Uganda in the men and women’s categories, bagged Rwf150, 000.

INATEK lost the third place playoff to Ugandan side Nemostars 3-2 (25-22, 16-25, 11-25, 25-14, 13-15) while in the women’s category, Vision beat Sport-S to win the third position (26-24, 25-19, 24-26 and 25-15) in the all-Ugandan affair.

Rayon Sports’ Nelson Murangwa was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the men’s category while Seraphine Mukantambara of RRA became the MVP in the women’s category.

Ugandan George Aporu was named the best receiver, while Kwizera was the best server and Bonny Mutabazi of APR the best setter. Mutabazi walked away with the best attacker award while INATEK’s Peter Bigirimana was named the best libero.

In the women’s category, Charlotte Nzayisenga of RRA was the best server while the best setter award went to Ernestine of RRA.

Rayon Sport celebrating

Final results
Women
RRA v Nairobi Water 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20),

Men
Rayon Sports v APR 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-16, 15-11)

Peter Kamasa
Rwanda

CAVB web site http://www.cavb.org

Rwanda Volleyball Team Set For Men’s African Nations Championship

After the spectacular of All Africa Games Qualifiers, Rwanda Men’s Volleyball national team head coach Paul Bitok wants a similar performance in upcoming 2015 Men’s African Nations Championship, which is staged Cairo, Egypt in July 20 to 31.

Rwanda will be meeting with African giants like holders Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon and Morocco but Bitok believes that the participation will help the players to gain the confidence.

Rwanda dominated the Easter Africa countries in All Africa Games qualifications after beating Uganda, 3-2 Burundi, 3-0 and Kenya 3-2 to earn the lone ticket of this group.

The last time Rwanda competed in 2007 where finished on eighth position which was held in South Africa under Frenchman Gerard and the best position back in 2005 under Major Patrick Rugambwa and Emmanuel ‘Casius’ Ndungutse, where Rwanda finished on fifth position.

The National team has not participated for the event in last seven years because they were no plan for the each year of the national team.

Bitok wants the team to start the preparation of the men championships early June as the way of preparing the All African Games, which will be staged in Congo Brazzaville from 4-19 September.

Rwanda Men’s team will participate in the Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship in Egypt

The president of Rwanda Volleyball Federation Gustave Nkurunziza said that “We have talked to our sponsor, ministry of sports on how we can compete in this event is and normally we have to send the team because we need to see our level against top teams in Africa”

“We want to compete in this tournament because we want to give more experience to our young players, we will use it as the preparations of All Africa Games,” he added.

The 2015 Men’s African Nations Championship will act as a qualifier for the 2015 FIVB Men’s World Cup which will be staged in Japan 8 – 23 September.

The 8 titles record holders Tunisia will be competing with their arch rival seven time champions Egypt who won the last five editions. Among other strong teams are 2 time champions Cameroon and Algeria beside the emerging Rwanda.

Meanwhile Kenya will host the Women’s African National Championships from 10 to 21, June. Rwanda will not compete in this tournament as the Volleyball Federation will first organize two months camp for the women from August to September after that the team will start to compete in continental events.

The competition will also act as the qualifier for the 2015 FIVB Women’s World Cup to be hosted in Japan August 22 to September 6, 2015.

Seven time champions Kenya is the defending champions as they won the last title in their homelands in 2013.

Peter Kamasa

Rwanda Crowned Zone 5 Champions To Book All Africa Games Tickets

Rwanda Men’s Volleyball team confirmed their qualification tickets for the 2015 All Africa Games to be held in Congo Brazzaville from 4-19 September after they finished Sub Zone 5 qualifiers in Rwanda at the top position.

Rwanda will be joined by another qualifier from the other sub zone 5 tournament which is running now in Ethiopia.

This is the second time for Rwanda to qualify for All Africa Games after beating Kenya for the final game in 2011 but rivals Kenya went to revenge for the third position in Mozambique by 3-2 and Rwanda finished on fourth position behind Cameroon, Algeria and Kenya.

Kenyan team

The emerging Rwandan team beat giants Kenya 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-27, 15-7) in the third and final day of the round robin tournament which features also the participation of Burundi and Uganda. The victory improved the Rwandan win- loss ratio to 3-0 with 7 points as the Kenyans gained the same points from a 2-1 win- loss record.

Rwanda won their first match against Uganda also 3-2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15, 15-13) and the second against Burundi 3-0 (25 -14, 25-20, 25-18) to clinch the top position of the podium. Burundi finished in the third position with 1-2 record and 3 points, leaving Uganda at the bottom of the table with a single point.

The win gave Rwanda the ticket to the All Africa Games and for the Kenya-born coach Bitok was not only happy with his team’s win and qualification but the fact that he beat his compatriots, who are handled by another ex-Kenyan international Geoffrey Omondi.

Huge turn out of Spectators

“It was a good game to watch for the fans, we are really happy to have achieved our goal to qualify, but we still have work to do for the All Africa Games,” Bitok said, adding that, “we needed to win that game, because it was one of the biggest games for us. It used to be hard game against Kenya and we have to look ahead of us to work for the upcoming competitions,” with three wins against Uganda, Burundi and Kenya, Rwanda qualify for All Africa.

Kenya started strongly and won opening set 25-17 but Rwanda shown the strong character to the Kenyans after winning the two consecutive sets, 25-18 and 25-22 as both Lawrence Yakan Guma and Olivier Ntagengwa dominated with spikes and services, while Fred Musoni and Vincent ‘Gasongo’ Dusabimana did great work with blocks to lead Rwanda to the opening two sets, it was hard to Kenyans to get the ball down as Flavien Ndamukunda and Libero Bosco Mutabazi did great job in defense.

Kenya came back to win the fourth set 27-25, Kenya’s recovery was led by Chemos Michel and Marua Denis powerful spikes. But it was Bitok’s side, which came on top in the decisive fifth set 15-7. This is the third consecutive win for Bitok against his nation after beating them in 2011 and 2014.

Ugandan team

Kenya played without their best player Fillip Maiyo while Rwanda was without inspiration captain Christophe Mukunzi who is still recovering from arm injury and center player Theodore Muyango.

This is second team qualified for the All Africa Games for the Rwanda Volleyball Federation after Flavien Ndamukunda and Olivier Ntagengwa got the qualification last month in Beach Volleyball which was held in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam.

The final day was attended by government officials among them the Honorable President of Senate, Honorable Minister of Culture and Sport, President of National Olympic Committee, the Director of Sports and the National federation members.

Best Players

Rwanda scooped the most number of awards four in total, skipper Lawrence Guma Yakan walked away with the most valuable award.

Flavien Ndamukunda was the best server, Ivan Mahoro Nsabimana best setter and Vincent Dusabimana was best blocker.

Ugandan born George Aporu went with best receiver, the Kenyan duo of Michael Chemos and Peter Kabati took home the best spiker and best Libero while Bosco Ngezahimana aka Rwarutabura awarded as best supporter.

Team Rwanda

Results
Match 1 BURUNDI VS KENYA 0-3 (14-25, 13-25, 20-25)
Match 2 UGANDA VS RWANDA 2-3 (25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 15-25, 13-15)
Match 3 UGANDA vs KENYA 0-3 (22-25, 20-25, 18-25)
Match 4 RWANDA vs BURUNDI 3-0 (25 -14, 25-20, 25-18)
Match 5 UGANDA vs BURUNDI 1-3 (25 -23, 19-25, 23-25, 18-25)
Match 6 KENYA vs RWANDA 2-3 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 27-25, 7-15)

Final Ranking
1. Rwanda: 3-0, 7 pts
2. Kenya: 2-1, 7 pts
3. Burundi: 1-2, 3 pts
4. Uganda: 0-3 zero win

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Peter Kamasa