Rwanda national beach volleyball team head coach Christophe Mudahinyuka has named provisional squads for the 3rd African Youth Games due July 18-28 in Algeria. The selection was made on Wednesday afternoon at Amahoro stadium, where Mudahinyuka selected four players in the boys’ category and four in the girls’ category ahead of intensive preparations for the continental tournament. Initially, the boys’ team was made of ten players while their female counterparts had eight players in training but they have now been trimmed to four players each. “After a few days observing and working with the players, I have trimmed the squad to four in each category. This will allow us to have a focused and result-oriented training regime,” Mudahinyuka told Times Sport after the selection. He said some of the criteria used to retain the eight players and let go of the rest included the player’s ability and skills for strong services and perfect reception. Besides competing in beach volleyball, Rwanda will also field representatives in athletics (six) and karate (four) at the ten-day African Youth Games in the North African country. At the 2014 edition of the African Youth Games when Rwanda made its debut in Gaborone, Botswana, a total of 49 athletes, 30 female and 19 male, represented the country in 11 disciplines including; athletics, basketball (3 on 3), boxing, cycling, fencing, golf, karate, lawn tennis, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. Rwandans settled for two bronze medals, one in karate and one in girls’ beach volleyball. The multidiscipline competitions will double as qualifiers for this year’s Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 6-18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Provisional squad members Boys: Cedrick Kageruka, Bernard Masabo, Romeo Ngabo Rwamuhizi and Dieu Est la Ndahayo Girls: Valentine Munezero, Penelope Musabyimana, Hyacinth Ingabire and Clementine Kayitesi editorial@newtimes.co.rw
