RWANDA is in for an uphill task in Cairo where only the top team in the Summer Youth Olympic Volleyball Africa Zone qualifier, slated for 15-23 March is guaranteed a ticket to the Singapore Games slated for August 14-26.

With tough opponents in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Kenya, the team’s head coach Paul Bitok concedes that it is a big test for the juniors.

The 18-man contingent involving 12 players, four officials, a medic and a journalist jets out this afternoon aboard Ethiopian Airways. The team will have a stopover in Addis Ababa before connecting to Cairo.

The team is captained by Regine Feza Izabayo of Apace. Other key players on the team include Charlotte Nzayisenga, Betty Beatrice Uwimana and Regine Nyirahabimana.

The inaugural Youth Olympic is a new event introduced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with a view of spreading the Olympic and general sporting spirit among the youth in the world.

Athletes who have so far qualified for the Games include Alphonsine Agahozo (swimming), Hakiza Matusi (boxing) and the duo of Adeline Musabyeyezu and Yves Sikubwabo (athletics).

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