Kirehe District plans to construct a gymnasium that meets international standards in effort to promote volleyball — and other indoor sports — in the East Province.

Jean-Damascene Nsengiyumva, the district’s vice mayor in charge of Economic Start this with capital D, has said that the project will get underway in 2020 and sourcing for the budget has already started. 

"We have done a feasibility study, and it looked promising. Right now we are still looking for a land where the gymnasium will be established. We have prospected stakeholders we’ll work on this project together,” Nsengiyumva told Sunday Sport without giving much details.

Once completed, the state-of-the-art facility will be home to local topflight league side — Kirehe Volleyball Club.

"We are happy to have a good team, but we want to look for and promote more young talents. This gymnasium project will be a big enabler.”

It is estimated that the project will cost about Rwf921 million to complete, with the facility also able to host basketball and handball competitions among other indoor sports.

Rwanda currently has seven gymnasiums led by the 10,000-seat Kigali Arena. The others include Amahoro Indoor Stadium, Lycée de Kigali, NPC Gymnasium, Kimisagara Youth Sports Centre, Groupe de la Sale, UR and Green Hills Academy.

Meanwhile, Kirehe Women Volleyball Club have been approved as one of the new entrants in the national league, starting next season.