The Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) is in the process of hiring a new head coach, Times Sport can confirm.

Federation Secretary General, Philbert Mucyo, confirmed that the Ministry of Sports has already given the federation a go ahead to appoint a new coach for the men and women's national teams and a recruitment announcement for the top job is now open to qualified candidates to apply.

"We need a new head coach who will help us develop our volleyball and also build a strong national team,” Mucyo told Times Sport.

Interested candidates have until March 27 to apply for the top job.

Rwanda has been without a permanent coach since 2019 when Kenyan tactician Paul Bitok left the duties.

In 2021, the country hired Brazilian Paulo de Tarso but his tenure did not last long after the world volleyball governing body (FIVB) imposed penalties against FRVB as a result of fielding ineligible players during the 2021 African Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Kigali in August last year.

In a saga that gripped the local sports fraternity, Rwanda was eliminated from the competition and was ordered to pay a fine of 120,000 Swiss Francs (over Rwf 120 million).

The players in question, all originally from South America, are right-attack Aline Siqueira, center Apolinario Caroline Taina, setter Mariana da Silva and left-attack Moreira Bianca Gomes.

The quartet did not have proper documents to allow them to feature for the tournament hosts.