Rwanda national women’s sitting volleyball team yesterday left the country aboard KLM Airways for a ten-day training camp in Netherlands ahead of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games set for September 7-18, in Brazil.

The camp, which will be held in the city of Assen, is aimed at giving players a test on the international stage. They will play a couple of friendly matches with the Dutch national team and several local clubs from June 25 to 30 before competing in the Dutch national championship set for July 1-3.

The Dutch national championship is also expected to attract several countries that will compete in the Rio Paralympic Games. These include; USA, Slovenia, Russia, Italy, China and the hosts, Netherlands.

"This is our last preparation phase and it is an important training camp because it will give us a real picture of where we stand against the best teams,” said assistant coach Jean Marie Nsengiyumva.

He noted that, "We have made significant improvement from the previous camps in Europe and China and this will be a good opportunity to learn more from this final training phase.”

In a separate interview, the team captain Liliane Mukobwankawe, said, "We have gained valuable experience from the two previous camps in Slovenia and China, especially game reading.”

The delegation, which is led by team manager Angelique Niragire, also included physiotherapist Jean Pierre Nkurayija and will link up with head coach Peter Karreman, who was already in Holland to prepare for the team’s arrival.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Full squad:Liliane Mukobwankawe, Beatha Nyinawabantu, Providence Nyirantungane, Solange Nyiraneza, Alice Musabyemariya, Carine Kwizera, Yvonne Imanishimwe, Claudine Murebwayire, Claudine Bazubagira, Anges Nyiranshimiyimana, Clementine Umutoni and Sandrine Nyirambarushimana.editorial@newtimes.co.rw