Three national volleyball league teams have confirmed their participation at the upcoming second edition of the annual Gisagara Preseason Tournament – set for November 3-4. The two-day tournament will be held at Gisagara Gymnasium in Gasagara District. The three teams that have already registered for the build-up tourney ahead of the 2018/2019 season, include Rwanda Energy Group (REG), the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) as well as IPRC- South. According to Gisagara Volleyball Club president, Augustin Ntivuguruzwa, more teams are expected to register before end of October. “So far three teams have confirmed their participation, but, we expect more teams to turn up for the event as the October 31 deadline draws closer. The tournament is open to all topflight league teams,” Ntivuguruzwa told Times Sport on Wednesday. “This tournament is going to be annual, and the plan is to make it bigger and bigger with time. As a club, it is our duty to contribute to the development of the sport in the country,” he added. Last year, REG gave Gisagara a rough run for their money as the red, black and white outfit edged the hosts in straight (3-0) sets; 25-21, 29-27, and 25-23 to lift the title. Established last year by the two-time reigning champions, Gisagara, the preseason tournament will help teams to ready-up and embrace the competition mood ahead of the upcoming 2018-19 domestic volleyball season, which gets underway on November 10. The inaugural edition of the tournament was contested by a total six teams namely; winners REG, finalists REG, semi-finalists UTB and APR as well as IPRC- South and KVC. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
