Africa-Press – Rwanda. In Gisagara District, volleyball fans were treated to an electrifying third round of the Rwanda Volleyball National League (RVNL), which featured only men’s fixtures.
The weekend delivered unexpected drama as defending champions APR VC suffered their first defeat of the 2025/26 season, while Police VC also stumbled.
Times Sport brings you some takeaways from a weekend full of surprises that reshaped the league standings.
1. Ngabonziza inspires RP-Ngoma’s first victory
Left attacker Arnold Dukuze Ngabonziza’s powerful spikes marked a bright start to the third round of the league. It was the first victory recorded by the university-led club, Rwanda Polytechnic Ngoma campus, this season.
Left attacker Arnold Dukuze Ngabonziza from RP-Ngoma was the oustanding player in the opening matchup of round 3 against Kirehe VC on Saturday
In the match, Kirehe VC suffered a 1-3 defeat (19-25, 20-25, 25-22, 19-25), struggling with unfamiliarity among players since it is a new team that did not feature in last year’s championship. The lack of cohesion among players from different backgrounds made their integration difficult.
2. Mutabazi yet to fill Ireke’s shoes at APR
Rwanda’s volleyball star Yves Mutabazi, who recently rejoined APR VC on a short-term contract, is yet to regain his rhythm after missing the entire second phase of the 2024/25 season. As such, he is struggling to reach the contribution of APR’s former attacker Denis Ireke, last year’s Most Valuable Player.
During the weekend’s matchup where the army side, under coach Sammy Mulinge, fielded Mutabazi as a receiving attacker against Kepler VC, the same position previously held by Ireke, who is no longer with the club.
Playing against his former club, Mutabazi didn’t deliver the expected impact, and APR VC suffered their first defeat of the season in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 33-31).
receiving attacker Yves Mutabazi is yet fit in shoes of Denis Ireke
3. Djibril Adam and Muvara form an unbreakable wall for Gisagara
Djibril Adam and Ronald Muvara, who rejoined Gisagara VC, both playing as middle blockers, stood out in blocking and attacking, outperforming Frank Shyaka and Placide Sibomana of Police VC. Their solid defence and energy on the net were key as Gisagara secured three valuable points.
4. Coach Yakan lifts Gisagara to second position
Coach Yakan Laurence Guma’s side, Gisagara VC, made a strong return to the top four since the start of the 2025/26 season, a position they missed last year.
In Saturday’s matchup, Yakan faced his former national teammate Fred Musoni, now the head coach of Police VC, and managed to outclass him. Gisagara VC remains unbeaten this season, climbing to second place on the standings with eight points.
Playing with home advantage, the southern giants wrapped up the weekend by stunning Police VC in straight sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) in the third round of the 2025/26 Rwanda Volleyball National League
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