Yakan named MVP in Japan volleyball league

Rwanda’s international Lawrence Yakan Guma, who plays for Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler, was named the Most Valuable player in the just concluded Japan second division Volleyball League. The assistant captain of the national volleyball team was also named best scorer, best attacker and second best server which made him the MVP 2016 V. Challenge League in Japan. In 21 games Yakan scored a total of 514 points, he served 29 direct points, made 21 blocks and netted 464 points of attacks in 75 sets played. This helped his side to get promotion to the first division. Yakan told Times Sports that he is glad to be recognised. “I am happy with the MVP award, but what is most important is that the team finished in second place. The whole team has been outstanding throughout the season and so this is a team award,” said Yakan. Yakan said winning the award was a result of hard work. He noted that it is not easy to win an award when playing in professional ranks because the competition is tight. The Ugandan-born started his career at Ugandan side Sport-S before joining Kigali Volleyball Club in 2005 from where he signed for APR before joining Algerian side Etoile Sportif Setif in 2011. Yakan spent three years at Etoile Sportive Setif before signing for Turkish side Palandoken Belediye – Erzurum in 2014. The 29-year-old was released by the Turkish side after suffering a knee ligament injury after just three months with the club. After recovering from the injury, Yakan signed for APR at the start of the league but he again suffered another knee injury in May during the Genocide Memorial Tournament but he came back in July for the African Nations Championship where Rwanda finished in sixth position while later last year he joined Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler. Meanwhile in the men’s category, Rwanda is in 42nd position in Volleyball International Federation ranking and sixth in Africa. editorial@newtimes.co.rw