Top volleyball teams Rayon Sports and INATEK will not take part in this year’s Paul Bitok international volleyball tournament which is slated for May 30-31 in Eldoret-Kenya.

INATEK Coach Dominic Sesonga Ntawangundi said that there was no sufficient time to prepare the team both technically and financially for the tournament because they got the invitation on Monday.

While Rayon Sports coach Fidele Nyirimana said the club doesn’t have the budget to take part in the tournament.

Over 50 teams are expected to take part in the annual tournament sponsored by Kenyan insurance company-Amarco.

The winner in both the men and women categories will get Ksh100,000 (Rwf0.7m), while the 2nd team will walk away with Ksh 50,000 (Rwf0.4m) and 3rd team will receive Ksh 25,000 (Rwf0.2m)Ulinzi men and Kenya Pipeline women are the defending champions. Bitok told this paper last month he is working hard to convince Africa’s volleyball body (CAVB) to incorporate the tournament into their annual calendar.

Meanwhile Rwandan league champions APR are yet to confirm whether they will take part in the tournament.

APR coach Sammy Mutemi Mulinge said: "We are waiting for approval from our bosses but we hope we can take part because it is one of the best tournaments in region.”

editorial@newtimes.co.rw