REIGNING BEACH volleyball champion Flavien Ndamukunda has vowed to defend his title when the 2014 national championships get underway today at the Palm Beach in Rubavu.

Ndamukunda will play alongside Bosco Mutabazi, who replaces his long time partner, Jean Luc Mbonyuwontuma who is currently in Uganda for school commitments.

The 25-year-old who has dominated beach volleyball in Rwanda for the last five years is counting on his experience and having an able partner in Mutabazi who he praises for being ‘the best libero in Rwanda.’

Up to 24 teams in both the men and women’s categories are expected to compete at the two-day event that will also be an opportunity to select the national beach volleyball team ahead of next year’s Zone 5 beach volleyball championships.

The Confederation of African Volleyball Board (CAVB) is yet to select the host nation or name the specific dates for the regional competition however, it has been confirmed that it will be held before the end of March.

Ndamukunda and Mbonyuwontuma won back-to-back titles at the Mombasa International beach volleyball tournament in 2008 and 2009.

In 2010, the duo won the CAVB Zonal beach volleyball championship that was held at the Serena Lake Kivu beach in Rubavu defeating opponents from Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

They went on to participate at the Africa London 2012 Olympic qualifiers in Yaoundé, Cameroon but were unable to make an impact.