GISAGARA Volleyball Club have appointed former Rwanda international Pierre Marshal Kwizera as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

The development was confirmed to Sunday Sport on Saturday by Augustin Ntivuguruzwa, the club’s president.

The deal, which he penned on Friday, will see him with the two-time champions till end of the 2020/2021 season.

Kwizera, 32, becomes Gisagara’s first permanent head coach since January when Dominique Ntawangundi was dismissed, allegedly for poor results, after just five months into the job.

"It is done. Marshal (Kwizera) is our new coach for the next two years,” Ntivuguruzwa told this publication. "His vast knowledge and experience in local volleyball is a great asset.”

Regarded as one of the best and most consistent players of his generation, Kwizera will guide the Gisagara District-sponsored side through the upcoming Carre d’As tournament, a competition whose title is contested by the top four teams of the most recent league season.

This year’s Carre d’As will see champions Rwanda Energy Group (REG), Gisagara, UTB and IPRC-East vying for the post-season tournament’s title.

Kwizera, who was largely an underused substitute as REG beat Gisagara in playoffs finals to clinch their first league title in June, retired from the national team mid-2017 after a glittering 12-year international career.

Besides REG, where he spent his final two seasons in competitive volleyball, the veteran center blocker also previously played for Gahini, Kibungo VC, Umubano Blue Tigers, Kigali Volleyball Club, APR, Lycee de Nyanza, Rayon Sports and UNIK.

Prior to joining REG in 2017, Kwizera, who also enjoyed one (2013) season with Algerian side OMK El Milia, won the 2016-17 league title with Gisagara.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com