Police VC secured a place in the final of the Africa Men’s Volleyball Club Championship after eliminating domestic rivals Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in four sets (25–20, 22–25, 25–17, 25–21) in a gripping semifinal held at BK Arena on Friday.
The law enforcers made history as the first Rwandan club to reach the final of the continental tournament.
Police made a strong start, with Brazilian hitter Bettim Matheus setting the tone through powerful, unstoppable spikes. REG, however, quickly found their rhythm matching Police point for point to level at 15–15.
A series of costly service errors from REG handed Police the edge, as opposite hitter Elphas Makuto led the charge to close the set 25–20.
REG responded well in the second set, shifting momentum in their favor. Left attacker Merci Gisubizo and setter Crispin Ntanteteri combined effectively, executing key plays to secure a 25–22 win and level the match at 1–1.
Police regained control in the third set with a disciplined defensive performance led by middle blocker Frank Shyaka, whose dominance at the net disrupted REG’s attacking flow. Supported by powerful hits from Gideon Angiro, Police comfortably claimed the set 25–17.
Maintaining their intensity in the fourth set, Police showed both aggression and composure to seal a 25–21 victory and book a historic place in the final.
Makuto stood out with an impressive 27-point performance. After the match, he credited teamwork and trust within the squad for the milestone achievement.
"I thank my teammates for believing in me, and especially my coach for his patience despite my mistakes. Our focus now shifts to the final, where we hope to perform at our best,” he said.
Head coach Fred Musoni highlighted the significance of reaching the final unbeaten.
"We have reached the final unbeaten, and that sends a strong message to our opponents,” Musoni said after guiding Police to a historic achievement for Rwandan volleyball.
Police VC will face Egyptian giants Al Ahly VC in the final. The record African champions booked their place with a dominant straight-sets victory over Petrojet VC (25–20, 25–15, 25–16), returning to the final in emphatic fashion.
Fixtures, Sunday, May 3
Third-place match: REG VC vs Petrojet VC – 4pm
Final: Police VC vs Al Ahly VC – 8pm
Both matches take place at BK Arena.