After confirming his candidature to vie for president of Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB), Leadre Karekezi, the former Mayor of Gisagara District, has revealed his ambition of raising the standards of the sport which he believes has stagnated in recent years.

Karekezi, a former APR and National University of Rwanda (NUR) player submitted his candidature on the ticket of the newly created league side, Gisagara Volleyball Club.

He will battle for the post against the incumbent Gustave Nkurunziza when the federation holds their general elections for a new executive committee on February 4.

"Taking our sport to the next level is my vital and challenging task and I will do all I can to raise the level of Rwanda volleyball from the youth to the senior teams which I hope that with everyone’s support, I will accomplish,” Karekezi told this paper on Monday.

While he was the mayor of Gisagara, Karekezi initiated the construction the country’s first internationally recognized volleyball gymnasium worth Rwf921 million that completed in December last year.

"Volleyball is mainly focused in schools where some youth in remote villages don’t earn the opportunity to play the sport so that can become loved like football.

"Only 8 teams make up the national championship, we need to increase the number of teams participating in both first and second division,” he further noted.

Apart from the presidential candidates, current first vice president, Julius Kansime is standing unopposed while the on the second vice president position, incumbent Jean Pierre Ribanje from Ruhango will faceoff with Fernand Sauveur Ruterana from Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC).

On the General Secretary post, Adalbert Mfashimana is the only candidate with Providence Mukamurenzi from Rwanda Revenue Authority to tussle it out with current Jeannette Uwera on the post of treasurer.

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