Sunday

Men

Gisagara 3-0 REG

Women

Police 3-0 RRA

Debutants Police Women Volleyball Club and Gisagara VC made light work off Rwanda Revenue Authority and Rwanda Energy Group respectively in the final to win the 2023 Genocide Memorial Tournament that concluded at BK Arena on Sunday.

Gisagara comfortably dethroned REG to the title after beating them 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) in the final. The Southern Province-based side had Samuel Tyson Niyogisubizo, Wycliff Dusenge, and Karthbert Malinga to thank for a consistent offense throughout the two-day championship.

On the way to the final, the champions defeated Police Volleyball Club 3-2 in the group stage, won 3-0 against Uganda’s Nemostars in the quarterfinals before putting up a semifinal masterclass in a 3-0 victory over IPRC Ngoma in the semi-finals.

Gisagara returned home with a trophy and a cash prize of Rwf1,000,000.

In the women’s category, Police WVC was a no-match for RRA WVC in a one-sided affair in which the law enforcers won 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-14) to win their maiden GMT title. They also walked home with a cash prize of Rwf1,000,000.

On the way to the final, Christian Hatumimana's Police WVC side put up a dominant display against 2022 champions APR WVC, beating them 3-1 in the semifinals.

The annual tournament is organized in honor of volleyball players, coaches, administrators, and fans who were killed during the 1994 Genocide.

The Genocide Memorial Volleyball tournament was initiated by former Rwanda international Antoine Sebalinda in 1995 after his brother Dominique Sebalinda was killed during Genocide, alongside other national team players.

The volleyball fraternity counts over 50 members who lost their lives in 1994.