The eight national league phases wrapped up, and REG and APR triumphed in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. The President of the local Volleyball governing body, FRVB, Raphael Ngarambe backed the idea of running the championship in phases and finds it productive
Following the completion of the FRVB Rwanda Volleyball League’s final phase, the Federation awarded the champions, runners-up, and second runners-up. however, the individual performers were not acknowledged since the league was played in phases, with each phase being played in a tournament format, as explained by Philibert Mucyo, the FRVB secretary general.
Rwanda Energy Group finished 8 phases with 57 points, the same as Gisagara VC, but REG won 4 phases while Gisagara only took three.
In the women’s category, APR W-VC won the first seven phases to claim the title, while Forefront finished second and won the final phase of the FRVB league.
Among the prizes given out to winners, the champions REG VC and APR W-VC received 2 M Frw, runners-up Gisagara and Forefront collected 1.5 M each, and the third-placed teams, APR and RRA pocked 1 M a piece
Speaking to the media, Raphael Ngarambe, the president of the FRVB, claims that the new league structure raises the level of competition and even helps the national flag bearers compete more effectively abroad.
He said: “The players have improved tremendously this season. You’ve seen how Gisagara performed well in the African club championship, APR Women VC and RRA did well in continental tournaments too. It is undeniably the result of this format. We are proud of it and will remain so for the next seasons”
The head of the Federation further affirms that players’ fitness is improved by playing more games and competing against their direct opponents on a weekly basis.
“I hope you find it useful as well. If a player can play three matches in a weekend, the body adapts, the muscles respond, and the level of competition rises.” Said Raphael Ngarambe, Rwanda Volleyball Federation President
Increasing the game’s accessibility to its supporters across the country will certainly be beneficial. Infrastructure advancements will result from volleyball matches played outside the capital city.
He added: “We hugely benefited to playing the championship in PHAses. First, the locals enjoy volleyball and experience the country’s current level of play. Secondly, by playing in different parts of the country, some infrastructure-related solutions are coming. Kirehe and Ruhango districts intend to build their own gymnasiums.”
The FRVB league is being contested in phases for the first time, with each team having the opportunity to host a phase under a competition format.
The first-round (Quarter-final) matchups are No.1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5 According to the previous phase. The winner of the No. 1 vs No. 8 matchup play the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup in the second round (semi-final) While in the second semi-final contest, the winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 takes on the winner of No. 3 vs. No.6. The losers play ranking classification games
In the first phase, they rank the teams based on their standings from the previous season.
