Rayon, RRA retain Genocide Memorial Tournament titles

Final Women RRA 3-0 Nairobi Water Men Rayon Sports 3-2 APR Rayon Sports and Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) retained the Genocide Memorial Tournament titles in the men and women’s categories, after beating APR 3-2 and Nairobi Water 3-0 yesterday at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, respectively. This is the second consecutive Genocide Memorial Tournament title for Rayon Sports and head coach Fidele Nyirimana was thankful to his players. “I am happy with this title and my players gave it everything to win this tournament. It was a tough game but we managed to reduce our mistakes in the last set which helped us retain title,” said the Blues coach. His APR counterpart, on the other hand, Sammy Mutemi Mulinge, said he was heartbroken. “We have lost to them for the second time (in a final) but this is part of the game. I am thankful to my players who gave everything to win the game.” APR dominated the opening set and were 8-3 at the first technical time out and went on to win it 25-18 thanks largely to the brilliant displays of Theodore Thiambo and Yves Mutabazi in attack and the service of James Ontere and Yves Mutabazi. Rayon Sports improved their block in the second set, eventually winning it 25-18 thanks mainly to good services by Pierre Marshal Kwizera and good blocks by Guillaume Irakarama, Theogene Tuyishime, Kwizera and Adolphe Mutoni. APR came back strong to win the third set 25-16 inspired by Nelson Murangwa’s spikes and Kwizera’s blocks but Rayon leveled the game after winning the fourth set 25-16. APR struggled in the decisive set after Rayon Sports dominated with 11-7, but the former managed to rally and make it 11-13, following strong services of Ontere. However, Murangwa rose to the occasion taking Rayon Sports to 14 before Mutabazi ensured his side retained the title. The contest between the two local rivals was witnessed by a fully packed Amahoro Indoor Stadium with about 2000 fans. Meanwhile, RRA retained their title after beating Nairobi Water 30 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20), overcoming the Kenyans for the second consecutive time in this tournament. RRA (women) and Rayon Sports (men) walked away with Rwf500, 000 while second-placed Sport-S and APR received Rwf300, 000 in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively. Third-placed Nemostars and Vision from Uganda in the men and women’s categories, bagged Rwf150, 000. INATEK lost the third place playoff to Ugandan side Nemostars 3-2 (25-22, 16-25, 11-25, 25-14, 13-15) while in the women’s category, Vision beat Sport-S to win the third position (26-24, 25-19, 24-26 and 25-15) in the all-Ugandan affair. Rayon Sports’ Nelson Murangwa was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the men’s category while Seraphine Mukantambara of RRA became the MVP in the women’s category. Ugandan George Aporu was named the best receiver, while Kwizera was the best server and Bonny Mutabazi of APR the best setter. Mutabazi walked away with the best attacker award while INATEK’s Peter Bigirimana was named the best libero. In the women’s category, Charlotte Nzayisenga of RRA was the best server while the best setter award went to Ernestine of RRA.