APR women volleyball club will be looking to mount a challenge against reigning champions and leaders UTB for their first league title in eight years when the season resumes in September.

The army side, with a game at hand, are third on the seven-team table with 10 points, 8 behind UTB and three off second-placed Rwanda Revenue Authority.

With a 4:1 win ratio this term, APR are optimistic about ending their long drought since winning their last league title in 2012.

"We have a good team with young and quick players, the league title is within reach and we will fight until the very end of the season. If we win our game in hand, we will climb into second position,” Florien Siborurema, the APR head coach, told Times Sport on Thursday.

His side has also been boosted by the return of skipper Yvonne Bayiga from a back injury that kept her on the sidelines through the entire season’s first-leg.

"Her presence will boost our chances in the title race, she missed the first five games to an injury but she is fully fit now. Like all her teammates, she is also training from home but I keep track of their progress regularly so they stay in shape.”

He further noted: "When team training starts, hopefully next month, we will urgently work on coordinating our game as a group.”

Just all other sports activities, events and competitions in the country, the national volleyball league was suspended in March as the government enforced strict measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is expected that the league will restart in September after receiving an all-clear from the Ministry of Sports.