Gisagara Volleyball Club’s newly appointed head coach, Joseph Ndahiro, is preparing his team for the crucial second round of the 2024/25 Rwanda Volleyball League season, which they will start by facing Kepler VC on January 18 at Petit Stade. ALSO READ:Ndahiro succeeds Yakan Guma as Gisagara VC head coach In an exclusive interview with Times sports, Ndahiro, who recently stepped into the head coach role after serving as assistant coach under Lawrence Yakan Guma, noted that experience has prepared him for the moment. It’s not easy, but it’s not new to me. I’ve carried the team through similar transitions, including in 2021 when we lost our former coach, Fidele Nyirimana. That experience has prepared me for this moment,” he said. Reflecting on their performance in the first round, Ndahiro admitted that the team did not meet its expectations. However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining team chemistry and staying focused on their goals. Our main objective is to be among the top four teams and qualify for the playoffs. There’s a lot to build, but I’m optimistic,” he said. Talking about their opening match against Kepler VC, Ndahiro expressed both respect and readiness. Kepler is a strong team, and we respect them, but my team is prepared to handle the pressure. Let’s wait and see what the results will be, he said. ALSO READ:Exciting volleyball events to watch in Africa in 2025 A couple of changes at various clubs may impact how the second round of the league will go. For instance, Meldinah Nemali Sande, a standout player from Kenya, joined Police Women Volleyball Club's and is expected to play a role in the pursuit of the trophy. Meanwhile, Anier Diaz Herrera from Cuba joined Kepler VC, adding firepower to coach Nyirimana Fidele’s squad as they aim for their maiden title. In other notable moves, Bertrille Mutini, a long-time player in Rwanda, transitioned to a new role as statistics coach for Police VC, while Eric Faith extended his contract to play for Police VC. Phase 2 Opening Fixtures Men’s Matches Friday, January 17 Police VC vs. Rwanda Energy Group (REG) - 7 PM Saturday, January 18 Rwanda Polytechnic Ngoma (RPN) vs. East African University Rwanda (EAUR) - 10 AM Gisagara VC vs. Kepler VC - 5 PM Women’s Matches Friday, January 17 Kepler VC vs. Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) - 5 PM Saturday, January 18 Ruhango VC vs. Wisdom School - 12 PM Police VC vs. East African University - 2 PM