Rwanda’s dream on despite defeat to Egypt

Hosts Rwanda lost their second game in the 2014 World Championships Zone V Qualifiers against Egypt 3-1 after a one hour and fifty five minutes game last evening at Amahoro indoor stadium.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Egyptians players jump to block a spike. They won Rwanda in a set of three to one. The New Times/Timothy Kisambira

YesterdayBurundi 0-3 UgandaRwanda 1-3 Egypt

Hosts Rwanda lost their second game in the 2014 World Championships Zone V Qualifiers against Egypt 3-1 after a one hour and fifty five minutes game last evening at Amahoro indoor stadium.

The loss makes Rwanda’s next game against Kenya today a must win for Paul Bitok’s team to have realistic hopes of qualifying to the next round as second runners up or second runners up in this tournament. Both Rwanda and Kenya have one win apiece but the Kenyans have played a game less.

Rwanda won their opening game against Burundi 3-0 and Egypt beat Kenya 3-2 before humiliating Rwanda in their second match yesterday.

Rwanda started on a high notch taking the first set 33-31. Bitok’s team started well but Egypt led to first technical time-out 8-5, and continued to lead the set to 11-8 before Olivier Ntagengwa’s service made it 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 14-14, 15-15 and Rwanda led to the second technical time-out 16-15.

Egypt came back with strong services and led 20-18, 21-19, 22-20, 23-20, 23-22 before Yakan Lawrence Guma responded with strong service for 23-23, 24-24 and 28-27. Yakan continued his spikes and strong services and Rwanda equalised 31-31 before taking the set 33-31.

Rwanda again started well the second set leading 4-2, 5-3, 6-4, 7-5, until the first technical time out 8-5, before Egypt took over 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 14-14, 15-15. Egypt led the set to second technical time out 16-15.

The Africa champions continued to lead 18-17 before Rwanda leveled at 18-18, Egypt went ahead 20-19 but Rwanda skipper Christophe Mukunzi made a good lob to make it 21-21. However, Mohamed El Hussein made strong services for 23-22, 24-23. Egypt took the set 25-23.

Egypt dominated Rwanda 5-3, 6-3, 7-3, e 16-10, 17-11, 18-12, 20-12, 24-13 and won the third set easily 25-14.

The fourth set both sides started with purpose sharing point after another 3-3, 5-5, 6-6, 7-before Egypt led 10-6, 13-7, 14-9, and Egypt continued to lead to 16-10, 17-11, 18-12, 19-13, 20-14, 25-15.

In the first game, Uganda won their first game of the tournament 3-0 against Burundi.