Rwandese team Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) Volleyball Club won both the men and women’s title of the NSSF KAVC International Volleyball Championship that came to a close on Sunday at the MTN Arena, Lugogo in Kampala.
In what was the tournament’s 24th staging, APR teams came atop Ugandan sides in the final with their men’s team beating hosts and record winners (seven times) KAVC 2-3 in the last game of the tournament whilst their women’s side withstood pressure to beat six-time winners KCCA women’s VC 2-3 in the other final.
In the women’s final, APR won the first two sets 19-25, 25-27. KCCA however bounced back into the game and won set three and four by 25-20 and 26-24. In the decider, APR threw away a five-point lead midway but managed to win the set by 14-16 to seal a 2-3 victory.
In the men’s final, KAVC who were inspired by Daudi Okello almost had the title at their grasp but APR who won set one and lost set two and three fought back to win the final two sets to complete a sweep at the tournament. The men’s score in the final read as; 23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 19-25 and 12-15 in favor of APR.
APR men’s team now have three titles in the championship whilst their women’s side have one.
The winners were both rewarded with UGX5M whilst runners up got UGX3M. Third placed sides (KAVC women and REG) were both consoled with UGX2M.
The three-day tournament finale was graced by former Vice President of Uganda H.E Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi as Chief Guest and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Deputy Managing Director, Patrick Ayota.
The tournament attracted clubs from South Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. Primary Schools were also in the mix.