The national volleyball first-choice setter Ivan Nsabimana Mahoro has completed his move to top tier league side UTB volleyball club after inking a two-year contract. The development was confirmed to Times Sport on Monday by Philbert Mucyo, the team manager of the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) volleyball club. The varsity side becomes the first local team Mahoro plays for since his ten-month stint in 2014 with Rayon Sports (now defunct) before he left for his University studies in Russia. The 24-year-old was part of the famous U21 national team that finished third at the 2013 CAVB African Junior Championships in Tunisia to qualify for the FIVB World Championships the same year, under the same age category, in Turkey. Mahoro made his league debut with secondary school side GSO Butare in 2012, and featured for the team for two seasons before crossing to then newly-formed Rayon Sports early 2014. During his brief stay with the Blues, the team played in four different competitions namely; Kayumba Memorial Tournament (first runners-up), Genocide Memorial Tournament (winners), the national volleyball league (first runners-up) and Carre d’As (second runners-up). Besides Mahoro, it is understood that the Kicukiro-based side have also secured the signature of Samuel Niyogisubizo from league rivals Kirehe Volleyball Club. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
