World Champ Qualifiers start

Its systems go for the 2014 Men World Championship Qualifiers Zone 5 volleyball tournament which gets underway today at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Rwanda national team players celebrate after winning a set in a previous competition. Times Sport / File.

Its systems go for the 2014 Men World Championship Qualifiers Zone 5 volleyball tournament which gets underway today at Amahoro indoor stadium.Rwanda will be looking to make the most of the home advantage when they clash with neighbours Burundi in the second match of the opening day at 6pm.This tie will be preceded by the game between Egypt and Kenya, both of whom pose a threat to Rwanda’s chances of progressing to the final qualifying round due early next year.Also in the competition is Uganda.The Egyptians, who have already booked their ticket to the next and final qualifiers phase, will be playing for pride in the Zone V championships in Kigali. All the four visiting teams are staying at Hotel La Palisse Nyandungu, while officials from the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) and match officials are at Hilltop Hotel and Alpha Palace Hotel. "On the organisation part, we are well prepared and ready to pull off a successful tournament,” said the Rwanda Volleyball Federation secretary general Christian Hatumimana.Egypt, Cameroon and Tunisia have already qualified for the final round and, according to the FIVB, the teams have been divided into three pools.Pool one is led by Cameroon who will be joined by Nigeria, Gabon, Zone 1 winner and Zone 5 winner (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi).Pool 2 has Egypt, who will be joined by Botswana, Zambia, Zone 2 runners-up and Zone 5 runners-up, while Pool 3 is comprised of Tunisia, Seychelles Congo Brazzaville, Niger and Zone 2 winners.