Léandre Karekezi, president of the local volleyball federation (FRVB), has said that Rwanda has not yet decided which candidate to support in the Confederation of Volleyball (CAVB) elections to be held in Egypt, in June 2020.
"Two candidates from Rwanda have shown interest, but we are still undecided. A meeting will soon be convened to discuss the issue and see who stands a better chance before we recommend him to submit his candidature," said Karekezi.
The two candidates include Fernand Sauveur Ruterana, currently serving as the second vice-president of FRVB, and Gustave Nkurunziza who is a former FRVB president and current president of the CAVB Zone5 region.
In a phone interview with Saturday Sport on Friday, Nkurunziza confirmed that he was yet to hear from FRVB but he had already written requesting for their recommendation.
"My position of interest is the same position I hold currently. I want to stand for the Zone 5 presidency again,” Nkurunziza said, noting that "I have gained valuable experience and got to better understand the challenges faced by volleyball in the region.”
Nkurunziza was the FRVB president for close to three years before his election to CAVB Zone 5 presidency in July 2017, replacing Burundian Louis Rwakiranyi.
While, by press time Friday, this publication could not readily establish the position Ruterana is planning to vie for, reports suggest that he is also eyeing the presidency of CAVB Zone 5, which has forced the local volleyball body to take time to assess the two candidates’ bids.
The June 2020 elections will be held for the positions; President, six vice-presidents, two positions for gender monitoring, zonal presidents, FIVB Board members and commission candidatures.
Each national federation, if interested, is entitled to present one candidate for each position.
Meanwhile, the Zone 5 countries have announced their full support to the current CAVB President, Egyptian Amr Ewlani, for reelection.
Zone 5, which the two Rwandans are vying for its top job, has 12 countries; Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Burundi, Tanzania and Somalia.