THE NATIONAL volleyball and fencing teams are ready to go for honours on their maiden appearance at the 2nd Edition of the African Youth Games slated for May 22 to 31 in Botswana.

The youth volleyball team under the tutelage of Kenyan Paul Bitok is optimistic on winning the volleyball tournament.

Bitok said, "My team has prepared well and our aim is to go out there and win the tournament though we know it won’t be that easy,”

"We are ready for any kind of challenge and for us to get positive results against elite teams, we need to be on top of our game,” added Bitok.

The volleyball tournament will be held in a round-robin format with Rwanda opening her campaign against Kenya on May 24; hosts Botswana on May 24; Mauritius on May 25; South Africa on May 26 before winding up against Egypt on May 27.

Meanwhile, fencing athlete Ange Nisingizwe will be the guidance of Coach Jean de la croix Hategekimana. Hategikimana who also doubles as the Rwanda Fencing Federation chairman said that Nisingizwe is well-prepared and ready to emerge victorious.

"He is ready to compete in the U-18 category. We have consistently subjected him to intensive training sessions and prepared him mentally in bid to stage a good performance,”

"He is motivated and we hope he will gain enough experience to help him qualify for 2016 Brazil Olympic Games,” added Hatagekimana.

Nisingizwe Ange was picked from Ecole Française Fencing club after he displayed an outstanding performance in various fencing tournaments that were organised by Rwanda Fencing Federation.