Gisagara VC players are reportedly considering backing teammates Ronald Muvara and Cedrick Ngaboyintwari, who were suspended by the club over what it described as misconduct. Muvara and Ngaboyintwari were handed three-month suspensions after the club took disciplinary action following Gisagara's elimination from the quarterfinals of the Genocide Memorial Volleyball Tournament by forfeit. ALSO READ: Gisagara VC suspend duo over ‘unacceptable’ misconduct The club forfeited its quarterfinal against Police VC after arriving late at Petit Stade, allowing Police VC to advance automatically to the semifinals. However, sources close to the club have told Times Sport that the suspensions stemmed from a dispute over unpaid salaries rather than indiscipline, as initially communicated by management. According to one source, the club had assured players that outstanding salaries would be deposited into their bank accounts before the match against Police VC. When the payments failed to materialise, several players, including Muvara and Ngaboyintwari, initially refused to take the court. We all initially refused to play because the team had gone two months without receiving salaries. On Saturday morning, management informed us that the outstanding payments had been deposited into our accounts, a source told Times Sport. Muvara and Ngaboyintwari decided not to play after realising that no money had been deposited into their bank accounts. The source said head coach Pierre Marchal Kwizera intervened in an effort to resolve the standoff. Eventually, the rest of the squad agreed to play, but Muvara and Ngaboyintwari maintained their decision to sit out the match, prompting the club to suspend them. ALSO READ: Beninese club joins Genocide memorial tournament Following the suspensions, the source alleged that the club settled the salary arrears of most players. However, team captain Sylvestre Ndayisaba, secretary-general Edmond Gatera, and the team doctor were reportedly among those who had still not been paid. The source said several players are unhappy with what they perceive as selective punishment, arguing that the entire squad had initially protested over the same salary concerns. The team feels it is unfair that only two players are being punished when everyone shared the same concerns, the source said. If the matter is not resolved, many players are considering standing in solidarity with Muvara and Ngaboyintwari. The development raises fresh questions about the situation within the club as it seeks to address both disciplinary and financial issues following its premature exit from the tournament.
