The national sitting volleyball teams, both in the men and women categories, will compete at this year’s ParaVolley Africa sitting volleyball championship that is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya.

The 2017 edition will be held from May 15-22 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Safaricom gymnasium in Nairobi.

According to the hosts, about 15 countries are expected to participate in both the men’s and women’s categories with the champions in each category qualifying for the 2018 Sitting Volleyball World Championships to be hosted at the Sport campus Zuiderpark in The Hague, Netherlands in July next year.

Speaking to Times Sport on Tuesday, women sitting volleyball team assistant coach Jean Marie Nsengiyumva revealed that players have begun preparations in their respective clubs but noted that before the end of this month, the team will be summoned for a residential training camp.

"Preparations have already started with players training in their clubs, but before the end of this month, we shall begin our first residential training camp because we shall have two camps before heading to Nairobi,” said Nsengiyumva

He further noted that; "Our target is clear, we want to compete at the world championships and I think we have a big advantage because we have vast experience of international competitions.”

In 2015, Rwanda hosted this particular competition and eventually won it in the women category becoming the first African country to qualify for the Paralympic games.

It was not the result that the Rwandan team expected but one would still say it was a fairytale and memorable Paralympic Games debut for Rwanda.

With the heavy load of shouldering Africa’s hopes, Rwanda’s debut ended with a dismal record after losing four consecutive matches to finish bottom of the eight-team table.

The 2015 Africa Paravolley champions lost all their Group B games – against champions China in the opening game 3-0 (3-25, 25-8, 25-6), Iran 3-0 (10-25, 19-25, 18-25), and the US 3-0 (10-25, 8-25 and 3-25).

In the seventh-place play-off, the team lost to Canada 3-0 (21-25, 15-25 and 20-25), hence ending the competition without winning a single set.

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