Few anticipated Rwanda Vitality Group (REG) VC to win the 2025/26 Rwanda Nationwide Volleyball League title forward of pre-season favourites Police VC, Kepler VC, APR VC and Gisagara VC.
However inside a matter of weeks, every thing modified.
Recent from securing a bronze medal on the Africa Males’s Membership Championship beneath Ugandan coach Benon Mugisha, the identical tactician who guided REG to their maiden league title in 2019, the membership carried new perception and momentum into the playoffs.
ALSO READ: REG VC topped champions after dramatic finals collection comeback
REG went on to supply probably the most outstanding turnarounds of the season, preventing again from two matches all the way down to defeat Police VC within the closing three video games of the best-of-five finals collection and clinch their third league title since becoming a member of the highest flight in 2017.
From getting into the playoffs as underdogs to ending the marketing campaign as champions, Occasions Sport seems to be again at REG’s unbelievable title-winning journey.
Huge funding in offseason
After ending the 2024/25 marketing campaign with a bronze medal, REG underwent a serious squad rebuild.
The membership misplaced a number of key gamers, together with Gideon Angiro, who joined Police VC, whereas setter Sylvestre Ndayisaba and center blocker Ronald Muvara moved to Gisagara VC.
In response, REG invested closely within the switch market to strengthen the squad. The membership signed skilled setter Crispin Ntanteteri, left attacker Merci Gisubizo, Kenyan outdoors hitter Nicholas Matui — who arrived after profitable the Most Helpful Participant award within the Kenyan league — and center blocker Emmy Twagirayezu.
ALSO READ: Matui praises Rwandan league depth after REG VC triumph
REG additionally introduced again Benon Mugisha to interchange Jean Patrick Ndaki, who left for Kepler VC.
Regardless of the standard additions, the largely reshaped squad wanted time to develop chemistry and consistency.
A tough begin
The struggles early within the season got here as little shock. Whereas rivals akin to Police VC and Kepler VC maintained settled squads, REG have been nonetheless adapting to a brand new system and mixtures.
Their issues turned evident within the season opener at Sainte Famille Gymnasium, the place Police VC defeated them convincingly in entrance of their house followers.
The poor kind continued because the workforce, captained by South Sudanese participant Thon Maker Madol, suffered 4 defeats in the course of the first section of the season and dropped to fifth place with 18 factors.
Because the second section neared its conclusion, REG have been in severe hazard of lacking out on the playoffs altogether.
ALSO READ: Matui praises Rwandan league depth after REG VC triumph
The APR victory that modified every thing
Stress mounted on a number of gamers, together with Merci Gisubizo, who had joined REG looking for a recent begin after serving a one-year suspension from volleyball.
Then got here February 28 — a decisive conflict in opposition to APR VC within the closing match of the second section.
APR began strongly and gained the opening set, however REG responded with dedication to take the subsequent three units and safe an important 3-1 victory (19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-20).
The win not solely secured REG’s playoff spot but in addition marked the start of their dramatic resurgence.
Within the semifinals, REG confronted Kepler VC in a collection many anticipated to be extremely aggressive. As a substitute, REG dominated the matchup and swept their opponents to achieve the finals for the primary time in three seasons.
Continental success sparks perception
The finals initially seemed to be slipping away after Police VC gained the opening two matches of the collection. Police, finalists for the second consecutive season after shedding to APR final yr, seemed destined to lastly raise the championship trophy.
Then got here the two-week break for the Africa Males’s Membership Championship in Kigali — a match that utterly remodeled REG’s mentality.
REG returned from the continental competitors with bronze medals after defeating Morocco’s FUS Rabat within the third-place playoff. In the meantime, Police VC made historical past by changing into the primary Rwandan membership to achieve the ultimate earlier than ultimately settling for silver.
Talking after REG’s bronze-medal victory, Mugisha praised the resilience of his gamers.
“Nobody gave us an opportunity, however we believed in ourselves,” Mugisha mentioned after the match impressed by Nicholas Matui, who scored 19 factors.
Historic comeback within the finals
Eight days later, REG resumed the league finals trailing 2-0 in opposition to Police VC, who wanted only one extra victory to safe the title.
As a substitute, REG mounted a surprising comeback.
They first claimed a four-set victory to power Recreation 4 earlier than edging one other dramatic encounter in a tie-break set to stage the collection at 2-2.
A day later, the electrical energy facet accomplished the turnaround in emphatic trend, sweeping Police VC in straight units to seal the 2025/26 league championship.
“The toughest title of my profession”
After the victory, an emotional Mugisha described the triumph because the hardest championship of his teaching profession.
“Apart from Peace Twagirayezu, many gamers in my squad performed by accidents that might have price us the title. I thank them for his or her sacrifice as a result of that is the toughest championship I’ve ever gained since I began teaching,” Mugisha mentioned.
For REG supporters, the triumph represented way over simply one other trophy.
Sylvia Mukandutiye, one of many followers who witnessed the decisive fifth sport, admitted she was overwhelmed with emotion as REG accomplished their outstanding comeback.
“I actually don’t know what to say. I had tears in my eyes watching REG climb the rostrum to obtain their gold medals. All I can say is thanks for giving us such a memorable championship,” she mentioned.
