Over 30 teams from five countries are expected to compete in the annual volleyball Genocide memorial tournament due May 2-3 in Kigali.The two-day tournament will be in honour of the players, coaches, referees and fans that passed on in the horrific 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis.According to the Federation of Rwanda Volleyball (FRVB) technical director, Christian Hatumimana, all the federations in these countries have confirmed participation but are yet to disclose which teams will take part.“We have invited two teams (a male and female team) from each country but usually some countries like Uganda send more than two teams and this shows the growing popularity of this tournament,” explained Hatumimana.With a specific objective to honour the Genocide victims, this tournament has, over the last 16 years, served as an event to also expose Rwandan teams. “The Genocide memorial tournament definitely gives exposure to the local players because they are playing teams from other countries and they also mature in the process of competition,” admitted APR’s head coach Sammy Mulinge. APR beat KVC to win last year’s edition. Burundi’s Muzinga (men) and Les AS (women), Sport-S and KAVC (men) and KAVC (women), from Uganda, as well as from Congo Brazzaville, are some of the teams expected. Traditional clubs from Rwanda like APR, Lycee de Nyanza, Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC), RRA, NUR and KIE are also expected to take part in the annual tournament.The local federation has said that this year’s tournament will be played in only indoor gymnasiums to avoid the interruption of natural calamities like rain. Four indoor stadiums have been namely, Petit Stade, Green Hills, Ecole Belge and Kimisagara gymnasiums. Meanwhile, FRVB is awaiting a positive response from the continental governing body-CAVB after the latter’s president Dr Amr Elwani promised to include the event on their calendar which would guarantee participation from clubs across Africa. Speaking at last year’s edition, Elwani who also visited the Genocide memorial centre in Gisozi, said he was impressed with the level of success of the game in the country and would front the matter to the executive committee. He was re-elected into office last December.
