Gisagara Volleyball Club and Police Women Volleyball Club lifted the trophies after emerging overall winners for men and women respectively during the 2023 Genocide Memorial Tournament.
Yakan’s Gisagara devastated the defending champions 3-0 in the men’s category 25-19, 25-21, and 25-19 to win the main trophy and rwf 1M cash prize.
The Gisagara district-based club under the tutelage of Sylvester Ndayisaba, Wycliff Dusenge, Ronald Muvara, Kathbert Malinga, Amadou Djibril, and Samuel Niyogisubizo overwhelmed REG Volleyball Club, lifting the trophy they last won in 2021.
Setter Ndayisaba, also team captain, starred for Gisagara with a brilliant command and performance while Samuel Niyogisubizo “Tyson” had been doing what he does best, spiking the ball aggressively hard with a powerful arm swing.
The women’s final was an all-Rwandan affair as well, as Police WVC bested RRA 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-14). Catherine Ayinembabazi from Ndejje University led the cops to defeat APR in the semi-finals and cruise through RRA in the final game at BK Arena.
APR Volleyball Clubs emerged third in both men’s and women’s categories.
Along with the medals, the winners got 1 million Rwandan francs in cash rewards, while the second and third runners-up pocked 700,000 and 500,000 Rwf respectively
The two-day competition began on Saturday and concluded on Sunday when over 21 teams showed up at BK Arena, Kimisagara Gymnasium, Kimironko Sports and community space, Notre Dame des Anges, Wellspring, and Apacope courts for the high-stakes games.
This year, the tournament attracted Volleyball teams from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan making it one of the most competitive and enjoyable tournaments in the region.
The yearly event is held in memory of volleyball players, coaches, administrators, and spectators who were killed during the Tutsi Genocide in 1994. It has been organized continuously since 1995.
The 1994 Tutsi Genocide claimed the lives of more than 50 members of the volleyball fraternity.
