V-ball: U-19 team in Tunis for Youth Africa Championships

Volleyball national team head coach Paul Bitok has named the final 12-man squad for the 2016 CAVB African Nations Championship Boys’ U19, which will be held in Tunisia from September 8-11.

Thursday, September 01, 2016
Rwanda U-19 national team pose after Wednesdayu2019s training at Amahoro indoor stadium. (Peter Kamasa)

Volleyball national team head coach Paul Bitok has named the final 12-man squad for the 2016 CAVB African Nations Championship Boys’ U19, which will be held in Tunisia from September 8-11.

The team departed for Tunis on Thursday and is expected to carry out their first training on Friday at Kelibia Club. They will play the 1st warm-up match on Saturday against Kilibia Club senior team before playing the second game on Monday against the same club (Kelibia).

The Youth Africa Championships will see Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda and Algeria play against each other on round robin format and the top three will qualify to represent Africa at the World Championships.

After announcing his final team, Bitok said that the tournament is a good learning experience for the youth side.

Botok said that, "We need to be among the best teams in Africa and I believe we are capable of achieving it. If we qualify, it will be one of the best achievements for Rwandan volleyball.”

"I can guarantee good performance but the most important thing is preparations have been going well. We will give our best in every match,” added the former Kenyan international.

Rwanda will be looking forward to represent Africa for the second time after the last qualifications in 2013 where the country qualified together with Egypt and Tunisia.

12-man team:

Christian Muhire, Ange Felix de Valoi Iradukunda, Eric Kwizera, Cedrick Kageruka, Cedric Ngaboyintwari, Etienne Faustin Ntirushwa, Ronald Thierry Muvara, Salomon Matsiko, Willcliff Dusengimana, Yvan Hahirwa Mukerangango, Jules Valentin Kabagamba and Helve Martial Inkoramutima.

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