Coca Cola has kept its partnership with the local volleyball federation intact by sinking $20,000 (approx. Frw 11 million) into this year’s National Volleyball Championship. According to Emmanuel Ndungutse, a federation official, the package has supplemented a Frw 26 million cash package that is to be released from the ministry of youth, sports and culture. “The package will be used to organize and run the four-month championship,” Ndungutse said. “Coca cola also funded last year’s championship so this is a valid justification of how much Bralirwa was to support Rwandan volleyball and sport in general,” another official commented. Bralirwa under their Coca Cola brand are one of the prominent partners of volleyball in Rwanda. This year’s Championship got underway last weekend and APR are top of the championship charts with 80 points after registered a 100 percent start to the championship. The reigning champions registered five wins in five games while last year’s runners up and 2006 champions Rwanda National University (UNR) could only collect 35 points after a tattered phase one performance which included a straight set defeat against Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Kigali Volleyball Club is second with 65 points while UBT is third with 50 points.In the ladies category, 2007 champions UNR top the charts. Ndungutse has predicted a tight race to this year’s championship title. “We expect an exciting and tight race to this year’s championship title. You always expect a few upsets when you have plenty of clubs competing,” Ndungutse reckoned.This year’s championship has registered a record entry of 27 clubs.Ends
