VOLLEYBALL is one of the most popular sports disciplines in Rwanda, and over the years, the sport has produced stars and legends. Some have gone on to become high profile political figures in the country.

Some of the former volley ball players include Sports minister Joseph Habineza, Rwanda National Olympic Committee president and former Sports minister Robert Bayigamba, Senator Dr Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo and Rwanda’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Jean Pierre Karabaranga.

Over the last 20 years, volleyball has produced a new generation of star players like Elie Mutabazi, Jean Luc Ndayikengurukiye, Eric ‘Machine’ Nsabimana and Fidele Nyirimana.

In this issue, Saturday Sport profiles Flavien Ndamukunda, one of the most celebrated players of the last decade—the left-attacker plays for the reigning league champions, APR volleyball club and the national team.

Early days

In his youth days, he wanted to become a professional footballer but this was never to be as he developed a passion for volleyball when he joined Huye-based Virgo Fidelis secondary school.

"I was into football until my senior two when I started playing volleyball. I had many friends who were volleyball players and they urged me to join the sport, and ever since I started, I have not looked back or regretted,” Ndamukunda said.

He featured for all his former secondary schools’ teams in the national inter-schools championships and helped Saint Joseph Kagbayi to win the title in 2007.

He made his national league debut in 2006 for Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare before signing for APR in 2007.

Club career

Ndamukunda featured for APR for four years—from 2007 to 2010 and helped the military side to win three consecutive league titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and led them to second place in 2010. The then National University of Rwanda in Butare won the title that season.

In 2011, he switched to Lycee de Nyanza and helped the then newly created side to finish second runners-up on their debut league appearance.

Later that year, Ndamukunda signed for Algerian national league side OLK Ali Milia and helped the side to finish in sixth position in the twelve-team league.

But after just one season playing as a professional, he returned home and joined INATEK in early 2013. He helped the Ngoma District-based league side to finish second runners-up in the league and also won the Genocide memorial tournament and KAVC tournament organised in Kampala, Uganda.

In 2014, he rejoined APR and led them to their seventh league title as well as the Carre d’As trophy—he also helped the military side to reach the final of the Genocide memorial tournament but lost to rivals Rayon Sports.

The former Saint Joseph Kabgayi student still has one year on his contract with APR, and wants to help the team retain both the league and Carre d’As crowns.

National team

Ndamukunda received his maiden selection for the national senior team on December 8, 2006 and has since been a regular on the team, playing in various regional and continental competitions. He never played for either the youth or junior national teams.

"I have been playing on the national team for the last nine years and nothing has ever made me feel so proud in my life like serving my country,” he told this paper on Thursday.

His last appearance in the national team came early 2014 when team Rwanda traveled to Cameroon for the final round of qualifiers of last year’s FIVB World Championships that was won by eventual hosts Poland after defeating defending champions Brazil in the final. Rwanda never qualified for the global event.

Playing volleyball, especially with the national team, has enabled Ndamukunda to travel to several countries such as Qatar, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Cameroun, Algeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi among others.

Saddest memory

He says; "In volleyball just like in other sports, we face ups and downs in our daily lives. The shoulder injury I picked when we (APR) were playing Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC) in 2008 hurt me so much, it still haunts me to this day because it almost ruined my career.”

Ndamukunda, who turns 25 in August this year, is still haunted by the shoulder injury that  prevents him from smashing a ball forcefully and enjoying the game like he used to before sustaining the injury.

What do teammates say about him?

Pierre Marshal Kwizera has been his teammate since 2006 at Saint Joseph Kabgayi, APR, Lycee de Nyanza, Ali Milia (Algeria), INATEK and on national team.

"He is a kind man with a positive thinking, he is influential and a good leader on court, he knows the right thing at the right time,” noted Kwizera.

Advice to young players

"I would advise young players to come into volleyball not for the money but simply focus on learning and improving day-in-day-out, be disciplined and work hard,” Ndamukunda advised.

Who is Ndamukunda?

Born on August 10, 1989 in Bugusera District, Eastern Province to Innocent Bazarusangira and Console Uwantege, Ndamukunda is the third-born in a family of four boys.

His father died in 1993, when he was barely a three and half year-old and was single-handedly raised by his mother.

He attended Ecole primaire Save, went to Petit Seminaire Virgo Fidelis Karubanda where he hid his O’level studies and senior four in Biology and Chemistry before moving to Saint Joseph Kabayi for senior five and Groupe Scolaire Official de Butare (GSOB) for senior six.

Currently, he is in third year at Mount Kenya University (MKU) pursuing a degree in Business, Information, Communication and Technology.

The APR star looks up to Eric Nsabimana, Olivier Ntagengwa and national team captain Christophe Mukunzi for inspiration.

Despite playing and loving volleyball, the 24-year-old Ndamukunda is also a football fan, in particular, the English Premier League side, Chelsea and Didier Drogba. He supports Spain in international football.