APR Volleyball Club and Police Women Volleyball Club on Sunday claimed the inaugural Rwanda Volleyball Liberation Cup. They were victorious after defeating Gisagara VC and APR WVC respectively in BK Arena
The Army side took home the maiden Liberation Cup title following a deserving victory over a strong Gisagara VC team. Sam Mulinge’s APR won 3-1 sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-23, and 27-25) over Yakan’s Gisagara, who was missing injured Samuel Niyogisubizo.
On their way to the final, APR VC dismissed Police VC 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-19, and 25-16), while Gisagara overcame their rivals REG VC 3-1(25-22, 18-25, 25-15, and 25-22) in the other semi-final.
In the women’s category, Police Volleyball Club defeated APR 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 20-25, and 25-14) to win the first Liberation Cup. Police eliminated Ruhango in the semi-finals, while the Army side defeated RRA.
REG VC and RRA VC came in third place in both the men’s and women’s categories.
The two-day competition attracted 12 teams from both the men’s and women’s categories. The winners earned Rwf 1 M, the first runners-up pocked 700 000 Rwf, and the second runners-up received 500 000 Rwf.
The Liberation Day is held every year on the 4th of July, marking the day the Rwandan Patriotic Army stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi. This year, Rwanda marks the 29th anniversary of liberation.
A week after the completion of the Genocide Memorial Tournament, Rwanda Volleyball Federation initiated the Liberation Cup to pay honor to those who gave their lives so that every Rwandan citizen might live a decent life.
The first tournament’s winners APR VC and Police WVC will live on in memory.
