APR Volleyball Club launched their 2026 CAVB Men’s Club Championship campaign in emphatic fashion, sweeping past Zimbabwe’s Black Rhinos in straight sets (25-18, 25-10, 25-11) at BK Arena in Kigali.
The match, played on Wednesday evening, April 22, marked the official opener of the 47th edition of Africa’s premier club volleyball tournament, which Rwanda is hosting for the first time.
Backed by a home crowd and watched by President Paul Kagame alongside senior officials, APR VC delivered a commanding performance, dominating all three sets to underline their early intent in the competition.
The fixture followed a colorful opening ceremony that set the tone for the continental showdown, bringing together 24 teams from 14 African countries.
Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) President Ngarambe Raphaël described hosting the championship as a milestone for the country and urged fans to turn out in large numbers to support local teams.
He called on supporters to rally behind the Rwandan sides, expressing confidence that the trophy can remain on home soil with the backing of fans, government, and players’ preparation.
Rwanda is represented by four clubs in the tournament: APR VC (Group A), Kepler VC (Group B), Police VC (Group C), and REG VC (Group D), all aiming to make a strong impact on home ground.
