More teams are expected to take part in this year’s Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT) compared to the previous years.

Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) acting president Julius Kansiime Kagarama said this will make the tournament more competitive. The tourney is expected to be held in the first week of June as the federation technical team are yet to fix the exact date.

The event is held annually in remembrance of over 50 members of the volleyball fraternity who include players, coaches, and administrators as well as other Rwandans who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"We expect to have many teams in the competition this year, and hope it will be more competitive compared to the previous years,” said Kansiime

"Our aim is to continue to be united and spread love to all Rwandans through volleyball, which will help us to build a stronger nation,” he added

Apart from local teams, teams from Kenya, Uganda, Congo-Brazzaville, South Sudan, Cameroon and Burundi are expected to take part in the tournament.

Kibungo University (UNIK) won last year’s edition, while in the women’s category, Sport S triumphed after beating Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) 3-2.

Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) has been organising the annual Genocide memorial tournament since 1995.

The competition was initiated by former Rwanda national volleyball team player and coach Antoine Sebalinda after his brother Dominique Sebalinda was killed during Genocide, alongside other national team players that sum up to over 50.

Some of the identified slain volleyball players, include; Benjamin Iminamikore, Regis Murekezi, Placide Ntagugura, Basile Ntagwabira, Egide Kumuyange, and Casius Kaonji, among others.

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