Gisagara Volleyball Club’s newly appointed head coach Marchal Kwizera has vowed to revive the team’s winning mentality, insisting that the Southern Province side has what it takes to return to the top of Rwandan volleyball. The 40-year-old tactician replaces Yakan Guma, who stepped down following the club's disappointing end to the 2025/26 season, where Gisagara's title ambitions came to an end after a semi-final defeat to Kepler VC. ALSO READ: Marchal Kwizera takes charge at Gisagara Kwizera's first assignment in charge will be the upcoming Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT), scheduled for June 19-21, which he sees as an opportunity to begin rebuilding the team's confidence. In an exclusive interview with Times Sport, the new coach said his immediate mission is to restore belief within the squad and bring back the winning spirit that once defined the club. I want to awaken the winning spirit. If you closely look at Gisagara VC's journey last season, they had a smooth campaign until the semi-finals, where they were eliminated. My goal is to restore the players' confidence and help them believe they can win again, Kwizera said. ALSO READ: Police VC to face REG VC in finals as Gisagara, Kepler crash out Gisagara VC has not lifted the national league trophy since its triumph in 2019, meaning the club has now gone seven years without winning the title. Since then, the closest it came to reclaiming the championship was in 2023, when it reached the final but lost to Rwanda Energy Group (REG). In the recently concluded 2025/26 season, the club once again fell short after being eliminated by Kepler VC in the semi-finals, extending its wait for league glory. Despite the setbacks, Kwizera believes the current squad has enough quality to compete for major honours, insisting that the team's shortcomings. The players have the quality to compete at the highest level, and I believe in what they can achieve, he said. Losing the playoff series in straight matches does not mean they lacked ability. What they missed was motivation and the belief that they could overcome difficult moments. Their quality is unquestionable. The coach also revealed that he is open to reinforcing the squad if the opportunity arises, although he remains satisfied with the talent already available. ALSO READ: Supporters rescue Gisagara VC as financial struggles threaten playoffs Asked whether he would be interested in signing his younger brother, Merci Gisubizo, one of Rwanda's best outside hitters currently playing for REG, Kwizera admitted that any coach would welcome a player of his calibre. Gisubizo was instrumental in helping REG secure a bronze medal at the African Men's Club Championship before guiding the team to its third national league title. I agree that Gisubizo is a player any team would want when fighting for trophies, Kwizera explained. Professionally, he has a two-year contract with REG, so bringing him to Gisagara would not be easy. But beyond the family connection, as a coach who wants to win, I would certainly like to have a player of his quality in my squad. Gisagara VC is expected to travel from its home base to Kigali on Thursday, June 18, ahead of the Genocide Memorial Tournament, where Kwizera believes his team will face its first real test under his leadership.
