Volley Ball national team to prepare for African championship

Head coach Paul Bitok believes the friendly matches against Botswana will help raise the level of national team ahead of the final qualifying round for the 2014 FIVB World Championships for Men due in Poland.

Rwanda is scheduled to play four friendly matches against Botswana, starting this weekend in Gaborone, and then later (February 1 and 3) in Kigali.

It is the start of intensive preparations for the team ahead of next month’s FIVB Africa World Cup qualifiers in Cameroon where Rwanda will be fighting for one out of three slots reserved for Africa.

Rwanda will be seeking its first ever slot in world championships in the senior category when they take on hosts Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria and Gabon next months.

After Botswana, Rwanda will play with Kenya national team on February 4; and then Kenyan clubs Prisons and GSU on February 6 and on February 8, respectively.  The team departed for Gaborone on Thursday.

Algeria-based professional duo of Christopher Mukunzi (El Fanar) and Lawrence Yamane Guma (ESS) will miss the build-ups against Botswana as they are expected in Kigali on February 3.

Friendly matches program

Jan. 25    Botswana vs Rwanda
Jan. 26    Botswana vs Rwanda
Feb. 1    Rwanda vs Botswana
Feb 3    Rwanda vs Botswana
Feb. 4    Kenya vs Rwanda
Feb. 6    Prisons vs Rwanda
Feb. 8    GSU vs Rwanda

Times Sport