The team of Gatsinzi Venuste of Gisagara VC and Niyonkuru Gloire of Police VC emerged champions of the Mamba Open Beach Tournament 2026 after defeating Nzirimo Mandela of EAUR VC and Munezero Cedrick of APR VC in straight sets, 2–0, in the final.
The three-day beach volleyball tournament concluded on Sunday, 30 August 2026, bringing together players in two categories: Active Players and Veterans.
Organized by MedWell Initiative in partnership with Mamba Club, the tournament was held at the beach volleyball court of ABCD Sports Club, located in Niboye Sector, Kicukiro District, Kigali City.
Gatsinzi and Gloire Claim the Active Players’ Title
Gatsinzi and Gloire booked their place in the final after a competitive semifinal in which they defeated Dusengimana Fred of REG VC and Tuyizere Aimable of KVC 2–1.
On the other side, Mandela and Cedrick secured their place in the final after defeating Mbonigaba Vincent and Hakeem Mukaila, both of APR VC, 2–0.
In the final game, Gatsinzi and Gloire produced a strong performance to defeat Mandela and Cedrick 2–0, securing the Mamba Open Beach Tournament 2026 title.
Meanwhile, Fred and Aimable finished the tournament in third place.
Yves, Shingiro and Eric Win Veterans’ Category
In the Veterans category, teams were composed of three players instead of the usual two used in standard beach volleyball, taking into consideration the physical demands of the game for former players.
The team of Yves, Shingiro and Eric emerged champions after defeating Mana, Jimmy and Fils 2–0 in the final, with set scores of 21–11 and 21–17.
Mana, Jimmy and Fils had reached the final after defeating Muyango, Robert and Lambert 2–0 in their semifinal.
Yves, Shingiro and Eric, meanwhile, secured their place in the final after defeating Dieudonne, Viateur and Bonane.
Promoting Wellness Through Sport
Throughout the three days of competition, the tournament attracted volleyball fans, active and former players, coaches and referees, creating an opportunity for members of the volleyball community to come together, compete and socialize.
Beyond the competition itself, the Mamba Open Beach Tournament 2026 was organized as part of MedWell Initiative’s objective of promoting wellness through sport.
The tournament aimed to encourage active and former volleyball players to remain physically active, maintain healthy lifestyles and stay connected to the sport. It also created an opportunity for former players to reconnect with one another, socialize and strengthen relationships within the wider volleyball community.
Through initiatives such as the Mamba Open Beach Tournament, MedWell Initiative seeks to use sport as a tool to promote physical and mental well-being, social interaction and healthier communities, while encouraging people of different ages to make physical activity part of their everyday lives.
The tournament also demonstrated that sport can go beyond competition and results, serving as a platform for wellness, friendship, community engagement and lifelong healthy living.
