Day 1 results

Group A

Prisons (KEN)        3-0      Red Skins (LES)

Ahly E (EGY)          3-0      Nemo Stars (UGA)

As Police (CIV)      0-3      Espoir (COD)

Group B

Bafia (CMR             0-3      Swehly (LBA)

DGSP (CGO)           1-3      Swimbluepal (SEY)

Aviation (EGY)      3-0      Finances (BEN)

Group C

University (ZIM)   0-3      Ahly B (LBA)

As Police (BEN)     3-1      Mwangaza (COD)

Smouha (EGY)      3-2      FAP (CMR)

Group D

Wolaitta (ETH)     1-3      Port (CMR)

GSU (KEN)              3-1      Olympique (ALG)

Kampala (UGA)    0-3      Elgiesh (EGY)

Gisagara Volleyball Clubpresident François Xavier Mfashingabo has expressed "disappointment” after the local league champions were disqualified from the on-going Men’s African Club Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

The Gisagara district-based club were due to fly to Cairo on Monday to participate in the annual competition for the first time. The Championships got underway on Tuesday and run until April 5.

Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) disqualified Rwandan league champions after the club missed the deadline to submit the required registration documents even at the time the final list of 24 teams was made.

Mfashingabo told Times Sport on Wednesday morning that, "We were not only shocked but also disappointed; we struggled to raise money for the trip, in-fact that is the reason we missed the deadline to register.”

"After we got the money we went ahead to submit the required documents but CAVB decided that we had delayed and they already had the maximum 24 teams, which they say they cannot exceed,” Mfashingabo explained.

The deadline of confirm participation in the competition passed on March 20 and CAVB communicated to the 24 teams that had met all the required conditions, the next day.

Gisagara had been in residential training camp at Centre Christus Motel in Remera for the last one week preparing for the competition in which they were going to make a first appearance.

Head coach Fidele Nyirimana was already in Cairo where he arrived on Sunday as advance party and even attended the technical meeting on Monday. 

Gisagara had already made air ticket booking for 14 players and five officials, in addition to having paid US$1000 registration fee, which they hope to get reimbursed from CAVB.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw