After the spectacular of All Africa Games Qualifiers, Rwanda Men’s Volleyball national team head coach Paul Bitok wants a similar performance in upcoming 2015 Men’s African Nations Championship, which is staged Cairo, Egypt in July 20 to 31.
Rwanda will be meeting with African giants like holders Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon and Morocco but Bitok believes that the participation will help the players to gain the confidence.
Rwanda dominated the Easter Africa countries in All Africa Games qualifications after beating Uganda, 3-2 Burundi, 3-0 and Kenya 3-2 to earn the lone ticket of this group.
The last time Rwanda competed in 2007 where finished on eighth position which was held in South Africa under Frenchman Gerard and the best position back in 2005 under Major Patrick Rugambwa and Emmanuel ‘Casius’ Ndungutse, where Rwanda finished on fifth position.
The National team has not participated for the event in last seven years because they were no plan for the each year of the national team.
Bitok wants the team to start the preparation of the men championships early June as the way of preparing the All African Games, which will be staged in Congo Brazzaville from 4-19 September.
The president of Rwanda Volleyball Federation Gustave Nkurunziza said that “We have talked to our sponsor, ministry of sports on how we can compete in this event is and normally we have to send the team because we need to see our level against top teams in Africa”
“We want to compete in this tournament because we want to give more experience to our young players, we will use it as the preparations of All Africa Games,” he added.
The 2015 Men’s African Nations Championship will act as a qualifier for the 2015 FIVB Men’s World Cup which will be staged in Japan 8 – 23 September.
The 8 titles record holders Tunisia will be competing with their arch rival seven time champions Egypt who won the last five editions. Among other strong teams are 2 time champions Cameroon and Algeria beside the emerging Rwanda.
Meanwhile Kenya will host the Women’s African National Championships from 10 to 21, June. Rwanda will not compete in this tournament as the Volleyball Federation will first organize two months camp for the women from August to September after that the team will start to compete in continental events.
The competition will also act as the qualifier for the 2015 FIVB Women’s World Cup to be hosted in Japan August 22 to September 6, 2015.
Seven time champions Kenya is the defending champions as they won the last title in their homelands in 2013.
Peter Kamasa
newfanzone 