As the final phase of the Coca Cola volleyball league gets underway today in Kigali, KVC’s Jean Marie Nsengiyumva and APR’s Jean Luc Ndayikengurukiye know that the club that displays the best game of volleyball at the end of the day will be crowned champions.

The two clubs are separated by five points at the top of the league table and the two coaches know that it’s a winner takes it all affair.

After amassing five wins in six phases, the defending champions (APR) were well on course of defending their title until last weekend’s reckless move by Ndayikengurukiye overturned proceedings.

The former APR and national team captain is said to have fielded an illegal player ‘Charles Habonimana’ in last weekend’s phase (seven) prompting the local volleyball governing body, FRVB to disqualify the club.

Following this decision, KVC who had comprehensively won the phase climbed to the top of the table with 470 points, five ahead of APR and could now be on course of lifting their first league trophy in five years.

However, despite what’s at stake, Nsengiyumva has downplayed the weight of the phase insisting that there is no need for his players to panic.

"This phase is not any different from the others we have played so we are going to approach it in the same way we have always done. This will ease the pressure on the players and probably bring the best out of them,” Nsengiyumva who has managed the club since 1997 said.

On the other hand, Ndayikengurukiye has rallied behind his boys to finish off the task for him.

"It would be a wastage of time to dominate the championship but still fail to win the title. I have confidence in my players and I know that they will do the job,” he said.

APR surely know that KVC will come out hard on them as the latter tries to halt its rugged show in the league over the last couple of years. 

KVC who were a major hit in the 90s have not won a league title since 2003 and Nsengiyumva knows that it won’t be long before the club starts asking questions.

Ends