Women: 1PM
Men: 5pm
Police Volleyball Club will face Ugandan side Sport-S in the men’s final of the CAVB Zone V Club Championship which concludes at BK Arena on Sunday.
Police will be looking for a revenge against an unbeaten Sport-S who beat them 3-2 sets in the group stages.
Olivier Ntagengwa and his teammates looked unstoppable during Saturday’s tense semifinal, outplaying APR in three straight sets (25-23, 25-21 and 25-20).
Backed by large crowds, dominated by ‘men in blue uniform’, Police rose to the occasion to take the first set 25-23 away from a stubborn APR.
ALSO READ: APR upset REG, join Sport-S in Zone V semis
The law enforcers put themselves in pole position to storm to the final after winning the second set 25-2. APR kept fighting despite going two sets down. But left attacker Merci Gisubizo spoiled their fighting spirit when he lost his cool to attack club assistant coach Matthew Rwanyonga, protesting against his instructions.
The pair were involved in a heated bust up before Gisubizo headbutted his coach on the nose. The player was sent off for his unsportsmanlike conduct while the coach, bleeding on the nose, was rushed to the dressing room for medical treatment.
Police took advantage of the opponents’ controversial situation to claim the third set 25-20, hence setting a final date with Sport-S who beat Fidele Nyirimana’s Kepler in another entertaining semifinal in a five-set thriller (20-25, 21-25, 22-25, 20-25 and 13-15).
The two sides needed a tiebreaker to set them apart after going level on 2-2 sets. But it was the Ugandan side who laughed last after taking the fifth set 15-13.
Meanwhile, APR will face Kepler in the third-place match.
In women category, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) will face Kenya’s Pipeline in the final which will determine the champions of the Zone V.
RRA and Pipeline booked final berth after they each beat APR, KCCA, Police in round robin matches while the match between the two finalists ended in in favor of Pipeline.
It will be another rematch as RRA seek revenge against the Kenyans who beat them in the preliminary stages.
The Zone V Club Championship is considered as one of the most prestigious volleyball tournaments in East Africa attracting the best clubs across the region.