University of Kibungo (UNIK) will not participate in the upcoming Alphonse Rutsindura Volleyball Memorial Tournament scheduled for October 1-2 at Petit Seminaire Virgo Fideris de Karubanda.

The two-day tournament is aimed at commemorating the late Alphonse Rutsindura and other volleyball players and fans killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The tournament returns after a five-year lull due to financial constraints.

"We will not compete in the tournament, our players are on holiday, and we don’t have enough resources to call them back for preparations. We have decided to give them time to rest and focus on next season,” said UNIK president, Laurent Ngarambe.

This season, the Ngoma-based club has won the league, Genocide Memorial tournament, KAVC Memorial as well as the Carre d’AS tournament.

Rutsindura Memorial tournament is organized by former Petit Seminaire Firgo Fidersi de Karubanda students in conjunction with the Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB).

The first division teams expected to grace this year’s edition include; Umubano Blue Tigers, APR, Kigali Volleyball Club, IPRC-South and Rayon Sports (men) while the women category has APR, IPRC-Kigali, St Joseph Kabgayi, Ruhango, Rwanda Revenue Authority and St Alloys de Rwamagana.

Second division club that have entered the tournament are; UR-Huye Campus, Petit Seminaire Firgo Fidersi de Karubanda, IPRC-East, College de Christ Roi, Kirehe Youth team, Indatwa n’Inkesha (former GS de Butare), Lycee de Nyanza, Groupe Scolaire Filippe Neri, GS St. Joseph and Rusumo High School.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw