Head coach of Rwanda’s APR volleyball team, Peter Kamasa, has called for increased investment in African volleyball, particularly in the development and welfare of coaches, Sports247 reports.
He made the remarks in an exclusive chat with Sports247 after APR’s quarterfinal exit from the ongoing Women’s African Volleyball Championship in Abuja.
Kamasa praised the tournament’s organization and competitiveness, describing the level of play as impressive and a sign of growth for the sport across the continent.
“The tournament is good and of a very high level; the teams are also of a very high level. We started well, but it later went bad. It’s a good experience,” Kamasa said, following his team’s 3-0 loss to Kenya Pipeline (25-21, 25-17, 25-14).
Despite the disappointment, Kamasa remains optimistic about the future of African volleyball. He highlighted the need for substantial investment in coaching infrastructure, especially in countries like Nigeria.
“We need to invest in volleyball in Africa “ Kamasa said.
“Here in Nigeria, you have players with height, power, and the infrastructures, but you focus on football.”
“We need to invest in coaches, train them well, pay them well, and put them in good condition so that they can train kids and have a lot of players to grow abroad.”
Kamasa emphasized that long-term commitment is crucial for sustainable growth.
“It’s up to us to improve ourselves, work hard, invest in coaching, and give us time, four to six years, for example and then we’ll start seeing the results,” he concluded.
The championship in Abuja has featured top-tier performances, with Kenya Pipeline’s decisive win over APR avenging a previous loss to the Rwandan side in the Central Africa zonal qualifier final.
The tournament will culminate on Sunday with an all-Egyptian final between defending champions Zamalek and arch-rivals Al Ahly, the record holders of the competition
