Gisagara completes Rwf921m international gymnasium

Gisagara District has completed the construction of the country’s first internationally recognised volleyball gymnasium. The state-of-the-art Rwf921 million facility that can also host basketball competitions. The 950-seat facility will be home to newly created volleyball league team Gisagara volleyball club – that will compete in the 2016/17 men’s season –, as well as Gisagara men’s sitting volleyball club. The facility’s construction was funded by the district. According to Gisagara volleyball club chairman, Fr Dieudone Kayitare, the new gymnasium will help to promote the sport in the district through provision of “excellent facilities” to young talent and hosting local and international competitions. “We are happy to have an internationally recognised gymnasium here. The people of Gisagara love volleyball and I hope they will turn up in big numbers to watch league matches and other competitions, and to support our teams,” he told Saturday Sport on Thursday. He further noted: “We have already started using the gymnasium and our team will soon start using it in their preparations for the upcoming season, we also hope that this facility will help us to raise the level of the game and in the district.” Gisagara volleyball club has so far signed ten players that include Pierre Marshal Kwizera, a former Kirehe coach that came out of retirement; left attackers Patrick Kavalo Akumuntu from University of Kibuno (UNIK) and Flavien Ndamukunda from Rayon Sports; as well as central player William Mudahemuka, and setter Thierry Mugabo, both from UNIK. Other include setter Cedrick Ngaboyintwari who signed from Petit Seminaire Virgo Fiodelis de Butare (Karubanda), Aimable Nkuranga, Feston Kagaba, Modeste Niyibaho, as well as libero Emile Ian Dada Karera. Gisagara became the 11th club to register for the 2016/17 season besides UNIK, APR, Kigali volleyball club, Kirehe, IPRC-South, Rayon Sports, Lycee de Nyanza, and Umubano Blue Tigers. Other new entrants are University of Tourism Technology and Business Studies (UTB) volleyball club, and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) volleyball club. editorial@newtimes.co.rw