THE national youth volleyball team has begun a one-week intensive training camp at Amahoro indoor stadium ahead of the Africa Youth Games slated for May 22 to 31 in Gaborone, Botswana.

Speaking to Times Sport yesterday, head coach Paul Bitok said the team had started intensive training yesterday at Amahoro indoor stadium.

"I am looking forward to good and final rehearsals before we head to Botswana. Players are in good shape and I believe they will stage impressive performances in the upcoming games,” Bitok said.

The 11-man team which is residing at Saint Francois in Kicukiro is boosted by Leo Uwimbabazi (St. Alloys) and Seraphine Mukantambara (Rwanda Revenue Authority) who helped Rwanda win the Africa CAVB Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games qualifying tournament held in Ghana in April.

In the girl’s tournament Rwanda defeated Namibia 2-1 (17-21, 21-19, 19-17).

Other members on the squad include; Grace Niyigena (Ruhango), Pascaline Mukashyaka (APR), Laurette Higiro (APR), Olive Mutamba (APR), Belyse Irakoze (Ruhango), Hortahance Zanika (Nyanza), Delphine Uwicyeza (St. Joseph) and Nassla Uwamahoro (St. Joseph).

Volleyball is among sports disciplines in which Rwanda will participate at the second edition of the Africa Youth Games.

Rwanda will be represented by a 63-man contingent comprised of athletes and officials set to compete in other disciplines such as athletics, basketball (3 on 3), cycling, fencing, golf, karate, lawn tennis, table tennis and taekwondo.

Meanwhile, other athletes are holding individual preparations under the tutelage of their respective federations.

With seven days left before the start of the 2nd Africa Youth Games, the host Botswana is ready, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Botswana Africa Youth Games Organizing Committee (BAYGOG), Tuelo Serufho.

Serufho said as the organisers they have been working around the clock to make sure that everything is in order ahead of the games and he was confident that the games will go as planned. "All logistics have been done and I am confident Botswana will stage world class games,” he said.

It is the first time Botswana is hosting games of this magnitude. Serufho said the venues, accommodation facilities and everything is in excellent condition for the games.

More than 2,500 junior athletes and officials are expected to jet into the landlocked Southern Africa nation starting this week for the youth games played in an Olympic format.

The games will be used as qualifiers for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games for some sports.