Fixtures

July 30

Rwanda Vs South Africa

 August 1

Rwanda Vs Maldives

August 3

Rwanda Vs Australia

The national men’s beach volleyball team will face South Africa in the opening match of the forthcoming Commonwealth games scheduled for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham.

Rwanda were drawn in Group B alongside South Africa, Maldives and Australia.

Head coach Christopher Mudahinyuka, speaking to Times Sport on Monday, admitted that, "we won’t take any chances by underestimating any opponent.

A confident Mudahinyuka says he anticipates stiff competition in Birmingham and has prepared his team accordingly, stressing that the main target is to "advance from the group stage.”

"We are having good preparations, the boys are in good form and ready for the competition. Our major target is to reach the quarter-finals, and from that stage, we can focus on each game as it comes,” Mudahinyuka said.

The Rwanda duo will begin their campaign against South Africa on July 30 before taking on Maldives on August 1 and wrapping up the Group stages with a clash against Australia on August 3.

The quarter finals of the men’s category will be played across three sessions on Friday 5 August and the semi-finals will be played in two sessions on Saturday 6 August. Both bronze and gold medal matches will be held on Sunday 7 August.

Olivier Ntagengwa and Venuste Gatsinze have been in training for the last three weeks and will depart for Birmingham on July 23 alongside the rest of the Rwandan delegation. Rwanda will field athletes in Cycling, Athletics and Swimming.

Groups

Group A: Canada, Gambia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Sri Lanka

Group B: Australia, Rwanda, South Africa and Maldives

Group C: England, New Zealand, Cyprus and Tuvalu.