APR Volleyball Club left attacker Merci Gisubizo could spend several months out through suspension due to misconduct at the just-concluded CAVB Zone V Club Championship.
Gisubizo was the subject of controversy when he was sent off for headbutting his coach Matthew Rwanyonga in the nose during APR’s 3-0 set semifinal defeat to Police at BK Arena on Saturday.
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The pair were involved in a heated bust up during the second set timeout as Gisubizo protested against the coach’s attempt to take him off when the army side was trailing 18-21. The left attacker headbutted Rwanyonga on the nose causing scenes from the bench.
The incident saw the match delayed for seven minutes as match officials rushed to separate them.
After discussing the matter, Ugandan international referee Innocent Komakech sent the player off for his unsportsmanlike conduct while the coach, bleeding on the nose, was rushed to the dressing room for medical treatment.
Beside being suspended for Sunday’s third place match against Kepler, Gisubizo could be suspended for months due to misconduct.
Gisubizo’s behavior was now taken lightly by a number of volleyball enthusiast, including Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) vice-president Eric Nsabimana who said that what he did doesn’t deserve a player like him.
"His behavior doesn’t suit him,” Nsabimana told Times Sport.
Asked whether the player could face charges, the official said, "we will discuss with his team [APR] before communicating the decision on his behavior.”
It wouldn’t be first time Gisubizo, a younger brother of Rwanda veteran volleyball player Pierre Marshall Kwizera, gets suspended over misconduct.
The youngster on many occasions exchanged heated conversations with his coach Dominique Ntawangundi while on international duty when Rwanda was taking part in the Africa U21 Men’s Volleyball Championship in Tunisia back in August 2022
Eric Nsabimana, who was at the time the head of delegation, suspended him from the national team during the tournament. He returned to the team for selection after writing an apology letter.