Mutabazi set for pro trials with Japanese club

Youngster Yves Mutabazi is set for a three-month professional trial period with Japanese volleyball league side Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler. The 20-year old Mutabazi is due to leave the country in July. He has been a regular for the U-21 national team and participated in U-21 Africa Championships in Tunisia and World Championships in Ankara, Turkey, two years ago. Last year, he competed in U-23 Africa Championships in Egypt. This year, he got his first call up to the senior national team, and the manager of the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler, Hiroyuki Furuta, was in Rwanda during the Zone Championships which was won by the hosts after defeating Kenya 3-2 in the final. After seeing him in action, Furuta recommended Mutabazi for professional trials with the Japanese first division club. Another Rwandan, Nelson Murangwa, who features for Rayon Sports VC, had pro trials at the same club for five months before returning home in January after failing to agree on terms. According to the national team coach, Paul Bitok, Mutabazi has potential to be a top player. The right-attacker or left attacker joined APR Volleyball Club two years ago from Group Scolaire de Butare. Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler is a men’s volleyball team based in Oita City, Oita, Japan. It currently plays in V. League, the top tier of the Japanese volleyball hierarchy. It represented Japan at the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship. Meanwhile, the league match between Rayon Sports and Lycée de Nyanza has been postponed to a yet to be confirmed date. The game was supposed to take place yesterday evening but it was called off as Amahoro Indoor Stadium was being used for other activities. editorial@newtimes.co.rw