THE national men’s senior volleyball team begins intensive training today ahead of the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships qualifiers.The team, under the tutelage of ex-Kenyan international Paul Bitok and Rwandan Jean Marie Nsengiyumva, is set to engage in preparations until they face Ethiopia and Sudan in the week-long Sub-Zone tournament scheduled for July 23-29.The national team is expected to lock horns with APR club in a friendly match this Wednesday and the then U21 national team on the eve of the tournament.“I am planning two friendly matches in a bid to assess the level of the team,” said Bitok who is confident on Rwanda’s outing in the competition.Rwanda will have home advantage, and thus are regarded as favourites before they host Zone V championship which will attract Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda in November, this year, from which top three teams will qualify to the final round which will determine Africa’s representatives to the World Championships in Poland.Players in camp: Herve Kagimbura, Flavien Ndamukunda, Pierre Kwizera Marshal [Inatek], Elie Mutabazi, Theodore Hyango, Bosco Mutabazi, Fred Musoni, Amiable Mutuyimana [APR], Eugene Tuyishime, Eric Nsabimana, Olivier Ntagengwa, Guillaume Irakarama, Evode Munyandinda, Emile Karera Dada [NUR], Placide Sibomana, Christophe Mukunzi [Qatari] and Lawrence Yakan Guma [Algeria].
