THE national volleyball federation (FRVB) has suspended eight national team players after they threatened to boycott last month’s CAVB Continental Beach Volleyball Group D tie against Kenya in Mombasa.

The players in question include Pierre Marshal Kwizera, Flavien Ndamukunda, Jean Luc Mbonyuwontuma and Léon Fidèle Mutesi in the men’s team, and Judith Hakizimana, Emilienne Uwineza, Janet Niyigena and Charlotte Nzayisenga in the women’s fray.

In one of the most shocking and shameful gestures to ever be displayed by players representing the country, the volleyballers refused to board the team bus from their Hotel to the venue of the final.

Not even a 45-minute telephone call from the federation president Charles Uyisenga could persuade them to change their mind.

The standoff was only solved when the players were given $300 (Rwf 180,000) from the participating fees given to every country by the Confederation of African Volleyball federation.

It is understood that the boycott sprang from unpaid bonuses from previous competitions accumulating to about $54500 (Rwf 32.6m).

The federation’s vice president Michel Umurame says the federation is yet to decide the duration of the suspension.

"We have not yet decided how long they will be out because there are important competitions coming up like the All Africa Games and CAVB Africa Volleyball Championship,” Umurame said.

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