DR. Congo will not field a team in this year’s Genocide Memorial tournament, the local volleyball governing body (FRVB) Executive Secretary Gertrude Kubwimana revealed yesterday.

"They have pulled out for financial reasons,” Kubwimana said.

This leaves Uganda, Kenya and Burundi as the only foreign countries set to field teams. Uganda is expected to field three clubs; Kampala Amateur Volleyball Club (KAVC), Kampala City Council (KCC) and Sport S, Burundi will also field three sides; Muzinga, Bujumbura Uwezo wa Ndani (BUN) and Les AS while Kenya will be represented by Posta and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

For Rwanda, local giants APR, Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC), National University of Rwanda (UNR) and CXR will compete in the men’s category while RRA, Ruhango, UNR, APR and KIST will compete in the women’s fray.

Foreign clubs are expected to arrive before Friday’s technical meeting where the draws will be made.

The two-day annual competition which throws off this Saturday is held in memory of fallen volleyball players, coaches, referees and fans who were massacred during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.

It is jointly sponsored by CNLG and CSR. The event will be staged at Kimisagara and Amahoro courts. APR (men) and KCB (women) are the defending champions.

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