By: Marcel Nzabamwita
The Rwanda Volley Ball Federation has held a conference aimed at addressing misunderstandings in the Volleyball national team and enlightening the public about plans and activities of the federation.
The major complaint by the national beach volleyball team is about the failure to receive their training bonuses that were promised to them since last year.
FRVB president, Uzayisenga Charles confirmed that the ministry of sports had not yet honoured their promised bonuses and rebuked the beach volleyball team for their reprehensible actions in Mombasa last week where they represented Rwanda in the early qualifiers for the African Olympic game qualifiers.
Makuza Lauren the advisor to the Sports minister told the press that the delay on honouring bonuses was due to a myriad of factors including commencement of a new fiscal year that started in July and that processing different accounts and paperwork was needed to release the money.
“I can assure players that all the money we owe them will be paid and even though I can’t specify the date, I can promise that by the end of the month of August all these issues will be resolved,” said Makuza.
After complaining several times to FRVB, the volleyball players almost forfeited their games and only accepted to play after a lot of begging and compromise from the FRVB in Rwanda.
However, volleyball players managed to qualify for the next round although the FRVB was displeased by the players’ bad sportsmanship.
All the 8 players of the men and women beach volleyball team were temporarily suspended and a special commission instituted to handle the situation and decide appropriate consequences for their actions.
Uzayisenga informed the press that the national girls’ beach volleyball team apologized to the FRVB for their misconduct.
It was also revealed that the Sports ministry is considering cutting down costs spent on the national team training and involvement in competitions in order to focus their efforts on growing home talent.
“The ministry of sports and the government of Rwanda in general have little means and cannot take up projects unless they are sure the prospects of reaching far and completing them are viable. For this reason, we shall be meeting with the federation and choose which projects are more significant in growing the sport and bringing glory to the country. The rest of the money will be spent in strengthening sports programs in schools and academies in order to make Rwanda a sporting nation” he said.
Mr. Eliya Manirarora, the vice president of the Athleticism federation of Rwanda announced the upcoming participation of Rwanda in the All African Games due in Maputo, Mozambique.
Of the 24 sport disciplines that will be taking place, Rwanda will be involved in 11 of them because the rest are not games played in Rwanda.
A total of 112 people will represent Rwanda of which 27 of them will be officials. A one-month preparation-training period is currently underway with the involved players in secluded preparation camps.
He said the Cycling team is currently training in Switzerland while the boxing team is training in France. The chief of the mission at the All African Games will be Mr. Kayijuka Gaspard from the Ministry of Sports.
It was also announced that the women’s Volleyball African cup of nations will take place in Nairobi from 15th -27th ,August.
Jean Marie Nsengiyumva said that the national volleyball team has grown stronger through the years and that we are hopeful for good results even if we may not come out the best.
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