TodayKenya vs. Uganda (4pm)Rwanda vs Burundi (6pm) YesterdayKenya 3-0 BurundiRwanda 1-2 Uganda THE National Volleyball team yesterday defeated Uganda 3-2 in the opening match of the All Africa Games Qualifiers at Amahoro Indoor Stadium.

Uganda shocked the hosts with their blocks, defense and strong attacks which minimised the Rwandan service thus winning the first two sets (25-19 and 25-23).

The trio of Yakan Lawrence, Olivier Ntagengwa and Vincent Dusabimana failed to match the blocks of Ugandan captain Dickens Otim and George Aporo in the first two sets, something that sent the fully packed Amahoro indoor stadium into silence as defeat looked imminent.

However Paul Bitok’s half time team talk seemed to work some magic as a rejuvenated national team buoyed by a mammoth crowd that included Senate President Bernard Makuza and Sports Minister Julienne Uwacu fought back to win the last two sets (25-23, 25-15 ) thereby sending the tie into extra time which Rwanda won 15-13.

"We started slowly, which is quite unusual. I think the players were a bit tense and were making careless mistakes.

But I am proud that they got back in the game and managed to win. That shows their character. Also our opponents Uganda have improved, so it was not an easy game,” Bitok said after the match.

In the other game, Kenya thrashed Burundi 3-0 (25-14, second set 25-12, 25-20).

In today’s matches, Uganda will face Kenya in the first match before Rwanda takes on Burundi later in the evening.