University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) volleyball club head coach Fidele Nyirimana has confirmed the signing of left-attacker Christopher Mukunzi from Rwanda Electricity Group (REG) Volleyball Club. The 32-year-old spent two years in Rwanda Energy Group (REG) where he guided the team to one league title. “Mukunzi has signed a three-year deal, and is surely going to be a key member of our squad next season. His vast experience and leadership is a big boost for the team, we are going to be stronger with him,” Nyirimana said. Mukunzi also featured for several local clubs like; Gisagara Volleyball Club, Kigali Volleyball Club before turning pro in 2011 when he was signed by Libyan side Tarsana Club. He also played for Algeria’s Blida Club, Qatari side Al Arabi Sports Club, El Fanar Ain-Azel Club, also of Algeria, and Turkey’s Payas Belediye Sport Club, as well as Bulgarian outfit VC Marek Union-Ivkoni. Back to Rwanda After the expiry of his contract with VC Marek Union-Ivkoni, which the club refused to extend, Mukunzi moved back to Rwanda to join Gisagara in October 2017, and immediately helped them to their second consecutive league title and Carre d’As trophy. In 2019, he joined Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and inspired them to the final of the post-season Play-offs where they will face defending champions Gisagara in the later this month. Mukunzi earned his first cap in the national Under-23 volleyball team in 2010 when the side participated in the 2010 Africa U23 championships in Libya. He captained the youthful Rwandan side to fourth position as Tunisia won the tournament. In 2011, he was called to the senior team and featured in the FIVB/Africa Zone V championships hosted at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali that Rwanda won. The regional triumph earned Rwanda a ticket to the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, where they also finished fourth, behind champions Cameroon, Algeria and Kenya. He was named the national team captain by head coach Paul Bitok in 2012. In 2013, he was part of the team that finished second at the FIVB/Africa Zone V championships in Kigali to reach the final round of FIVB World Championships qualifiers held in Cameroon. Rwanda finished third out of five countries, behind hosts Cameroon and Algeria. The soft spoken player was again part of Paul Bitok’s final squad that competed at the 2015 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. There, Rwanda finished fourth. Mukunzi has been the captain of the senior national team since 2011.
