WORLD CUP MATCHES

Jan. 25 - Botswana vs RwandaJan. 26 - Botswana vs Rwanda

Feb. 1 - Rwanda vs BotswanaFeb 3 - Rwanda vs Botswana

Feb. 4 - Kenya vs RwandaFeb. 6 - Prisons vs RwandaFeb. 8 - GSU vs Rwanda

The two games in the Southern African nation mark the start of intensive preparations for next month’s FIVB Africa World Cup qualifiers in Cameroon where Rwanda and four other countries will be fighting for one out of three slots reserved for Africa.

The other two slots will go to the winners in two other groups which will play their final qualifiers in Egypt and Tunisia.

Head coach Paul Bitok said Rwanda will play Zone VI champions Botswana twice – on Saturday and Sunday – before returning home the following day.

Bitok is clearly not taking these friendly matches for granted.

"We have lined up strong friendly matches with an aim of helping players gain exposure and experience so we can boost our chances of landing a World Cup spot,” added Bitok.

After the games in Gaborone, Rwanda will go on to host Botswana in another pair of friendly games in Kigali on February 1 and 3.

Botswana and its zone counterparts Zambia are also gearing up for the Africa World Championship Qualifiers.

The Kenyan test

After the Botswana return leg in Kigali, the Rwandan team will then jet out for the World Championship qualifiers in Cameroon, with a stopover in Nairobi where it is scheduled to play more friendly matches with the Kenyan national team and a couple of topflight volleyball clubs in the country.

Kenya, who lost to Rwanda during the zonal qualifying round, are also in the race for the World Championships and will make their final push for qualification in Egypt, one of the three hosts of the last qualification games.

Rwanda will play its friendly with Kenya on February 4, then Kenya Prisons on February 6, and GSU on February 8 – before proceeding to Cameroon.

Kenya’s head coach Gideon Chenje said the friendly was timely for both sides. "We played Rwanda late last year during the second round of World Championship qualifier in Kigali and it was a battle royal even as they had the final laugh, defeating us 3-2 in the final.”

He said they intended to use the game against Rwanda to identify and address any loopholes in his side ahead of the continental games.

Chenje said they are not taking any chances considering what is at stake. 

"We expect Turkey-based duo of Phillip Maiyo and Micheal Chemos; Romania-based James Ontere and Italy-based John Ndung’u to link up with team soon,” he said in reference to Kenyan pros expected to join the team.

Eleven summoned

Meanwhile, Birok has summoned an 11-man team for the upcoming friendly matches.

They include; Aimable Mutuyimana, Flavien Ndamukunda, Nelson Murangwa, Olivier Ntagengwa, Bonny Mutabazi, Bosco Mutabazi, Herve Kagimbura, Fred Musoni, Vincent Dusabimana, Marchal kwizera and Theodore Muyango.

But Algeria-based professional duo of Christopher Mukunzi (El Fanar) and Lawrence Yakan Guma (ESS) will miss the build-ups against Bostwana. They are expected in Kigali on February 3. 

Fifteen African countries will lock horns in three pools in Cameroon, Egypt and Tunisia, with the best team from each group earning the right to represent the continent in the world championships in Poland from September 3 to 21.

At the final round of world qualifiers due February 12 to 24, Rwanda will face hosts Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria and Gabon.

Egypt, the reigning African champions, will host games for another pool which includes Kenya, Botswana, Cape Verde and Zambia.

Tunisia will host the third pool qualifiers which also has Seychelles, Niger, Senegal and Republic of Congo.

Rwanda reached the last qualifiers after beating Kenya, Uganda and Burundi before losing to Egypt and finishing as the first runners-up in the FIVB-Africa Zone V championships last year in Kigali.