National Volleyball League giants APR will today start early preparations at Amahoro indoor stadium ahead of the forthcoming 2016/17 season, set to kick off on December 17.

The 2014 champions are keen to put an end on the two-year drought and, according to the head coach Sammy Mulinge, the team will begin getting through their paces today through December 17 in a bid to build their game intensity as well as getting players ready as early as possible.

"We are starting training on Monday because we want to be ready for the championships and we want to prepare the team well,” the Kenyan trainer told Times Sport

Mulinge, who has yet to add new players to his side, revealed he was looking to sign some new players before the transfer window closes.

Meanwhile, this season’s National Volleyball League will have eleventh clubs, up from nine last season. They include champions University of Kibungo, APR, Kigali Volleyball Club, Kirehe, IPRC-South, Rayon Sports, Lycee de Nyanza, and Umubano Blue Tigers. The new comers include Gisagara Volleyball Club, University of Tourism Technology and Business Studies (UTB) volleyball club, and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) volleyball club.

The women league volleyball will start on January 21.

University of Kibungo (UNIK) and Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) are defending champions in men and women’s category, respectively.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw