Rwanda men’s volleyball team players seen in a previous tournament. The team is eyeing a slot to this year’s All Africa Games
Rwanda volleyball federation has lined up a strong squad which will take part in the upcoming CAVB Africa Zone 5 Championships with an aim of securing a ticket to this year’s 2019 All-Africa Games which will be held in Rabat, Morocco.
The CAVB Africa Zone 5 Championships, which will serve as qualifiers for the 2019 All-Africa Games, is scheduled to run from June 5-9 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The national volleyball team interim coach Elie Mutabazi named a 22-man provisional squad which started intensive preparations on Monday at Amahoro indoor stadium.
The squad includes 20 home-based players and one professional player and will be supported with services of Nyirimana Fidele as the assistant coach and Kenyan Paul Bitok as the supervisor.
Mutabazi said on Monday, “The team’s mission is to go into the regional tournament and stage impressive performances. Our ultimate target is to qualify to secure a berth at the Africa Games,”
Nairobi will host this year’s Zone Five Africa Games qualifiers from June 5 to 10 with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Egypt and Rwanda having confirmed their participation.
However, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Burundi and Somalia are yet to confirm whether they will take part.
Each zone will now have to go through qualification to secure the seven tickets available to link up with hosts Morocco at the finals, which will be held in Rabat in August.
Kenya are the defending Zone Five volleyball champions, having beaten hosts Rwanda two years ago when they lifted the title in Kigali.
Rwanda Men’s Volleyball Provisional Squad
Setters: Sylvestre Ndayisaba (REG), Ivan Nsabimana Mahoro (UTB) and Thierry Mugabo (Gisagara).
Left attackers: Christopher Mukunzi, (Captain, REG) Yves Mutabazi (REG), Olivier Ntagengwa (REG), Patrick Akumuntu Kavalo (Gisagara), Willcriff Dusenge (Gisagara), Felix Niyomugabo (IPRC-Ngoma) and Fred Muvunyi (UTB).
Right attackers: Yakan Lawrence (Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler, Japan), Venuste Gatsinzi (APR) and Samuel Niyogisubizo (UTB)
Liberos: Simon Rwigema (REG) and Emile Karera Dada (Gisagara).
Centre players: Placide Madison Sibomana (UTB) Nelson Murangwa (Gisagara), Prince Kanamugire (APR), Ronald Muvara (APR), Fred Musoni (Finland, Liiga Riento) John Nkurunziza (UTB) and Vincent Dusabimana (Gisagara).
