National volleyball team head coach Paul Bitok has challenged his players to replicate the performance they displayed in their win against Kenya in Zone 5 championships on Monday, when they travel to Congo Brazzaville for the All Africa Games slated for 4-19 September.

This is the second time that Rwanda is qualifying for All Africa Games after beating Kenya in the same competition in 2011. Rwanda finished 4th in the 2011 All Africa Games, something Bitok wants to avoid.

The Kenyan tactician wants the team to start preparing for the games in early June and also play a series of friendly matches.

"We will start training for the All Africa Games in early June, because it is evident that the reason we won the Zone V was thorough preparations. The players need to show that they can compete with the best on the continent,” Bitok said.

Meanwhile Bitok has paid glowing tribute to his players for soaking in pressure from fans and opponents to emerge victorious in the Zone V championship.

"The players did exceptionally well. It was tense at times because some of the players didn’t have the experience of coping with pressure of playing in front of a huge home crowd against good opponents, but overall they did well,” Bitok said. Players awarded

Rwanda scooped 4 awards, the highest for any team in the competition. Skipper Lawrence Guma Yakan walked away with the most valuable player award. Flavien Ndamukunda took home the best server award while Ivan Mahoro Nsabimana was best setter and Vincent Dusabimana was named the best blocker.

Uganda’s George Aporu won the best receiver accolade, Kenyan duo of Michael Chemos and Peter Kabati took home the best spiker and best Libero respectively while Bosco Ngezahimana aka Rwarutabura was voted the best supporter.

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