APR volleyball club start early preps ahead of new season

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Damas Sikubwabo

APR Volleyball team head coach Elia Mutabazi, (on black) gives instructions to his players during a past league match at Amahoro indoor stadium. The army side has started training ahead of the start of the season. / Sam Ngendahimana.

Local volleyball powerhouse APR have started early preparations for the upcoming season.

The 2021/2022 league is expected to start next month, though the dates are not yet specified.

Last week, the Ministry of Sports gave permission to clubs to start training, and APR is one of those that have started preparing for the new season.

The club’s training is taking place at Amahoro outdoor stadium, and according to Elia Mutabazi, the head coach, the preparations aim at making the players ready as early as possible.

"Our players have started individual training and in the few days, we will start to use the ball because we want to be ready for the championships. We want to prepare the team well,” he said in an interview with Times Sports.

On Thursday, the Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) is expected to announce the dates on which the new season will start.

Six clubs are expected to compete in the men’s category. They include: defending champions Rwanda Energy Group (REG), Gisagara VC, Kirehe VC, Tourism Technology and Business Studies (UTB), IPRC-South VC, and APR VC.

The women’s league will comprise of the University of Tourism Technology and Business Studies (UTB), reigning champions Rwanda Revenue Authority, Ruhango High School, St Joseph, APR, IPRC-Kigali and St Aloys de Rwamagana.

Last year, APR men’s volleyball club won the national league title after defeating UTB 3-2. While in the women’s category, UTB retained the women’s league title after beating APR by 3-2 sets.