Genocide Memorial Tournament defending champions Rwanda Revenue Authority will be out to defend their title in this weekend’s 21st edition of the regional volleyball tournament, which will be played today and tomorrow in Kigali.

Over 20 teams will compete in this year’s tournament and include men and women sides from DR Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and hosts Rwanda.

RRA volleyball Club head coach Christophe Mudahinyuka said, "It is a very big event because we know these games are important for us, so we need to be calm and be ready for the challenge.

"We are the defending champions and need to retain our title. We know it will be very tough but we believe that we can make it.”

"Our target is to win all our matches. The players have a winning mentality. They have been doing well in training and league matches so I’m confident in them,” Mudahinyuka said.

RRA are unbeaten in the league so far and Mudahinyuka is keen to see his side continue with that form going into the Genocide Memorial Tournament.

"We will not change our mentality or approach because we want to win the tournament,” he added. 

The annual event is held in memory of at least 50 members of the country’s volleyball fraternity, including players, coaches and administrators who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Genocide claimed at the lives of at least a million people.

Matches will be played at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, NPC, Kimisagara Youth Center, University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics, UR’s College of Education, Premature, and Ecole Belge.

Rwanda will be represented by APR, Rayon Sports, Kirehe, INATEK and IPRC-South in the men’s category, while Rwanda Revenue Authority, APR, St Aloys Rwamagana and Ruhango will participate in the women’s category.

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