National league champions University of Kibungo Volleyball Club (UNK) have set sights on an improved performance at next year’s Africa Club Championships scheduled between March and April. The exact dates and the host country will be confirmed by the Africa Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) in January. UNIK coach Dominique Ntawangundi says his team are looking forward to start preparations as early as November. “We’ve just had a tremendous season and it was a good experience for my players in all the competitions that we won, this boosts their confidence going into the continental championships,” said Ntawangundi. Besides the local league title, UNIK won the Genocide Memorial tourney, KVAC Memorial tournament staged in Kampala, Uganda, as well as the Carre d’AS competition. They will however not participate in the upcoming Alphonse Rutsindura Volleyball Memorial Tournament, slated for October 1-2 at Petit Seminaire Virgo Fideris de Karubanda in Southern Province. The tournament serves to commemorate the late Alphonse Rutsindura and other volleyball players and fans who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Ntawangundi said, “We will give our best and try to improve in next year’s Africa Club Championships. Obviously, we want to win every competition that we take part in but it’s not always possible.” Meanwhile, Egypt beat hosts Morocco to win the Africa Men U21 Championships, which concluded Saturday in Casablanca. Egypt effectively booked their ticket to the 2017 Men’s U21 World Championships. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
