The National Men’s volleyball team flew to South Africa yesterday to participate in the 2008 African Olympic qualifications that throw off tomorrow in Johannesburg. The 10-day event will determine the African qualifier to the Beijing Olympic Games in China later this year.

Rwanda will contest with Africa’s top volleyball playing nations amongst which include the African champions Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Kenya.

The team head coach Gerard Jouault has made one change from the team that participated in last year’s African Cup of Nations.

Elie Mutabazi (Libero) comes in for Pierre Marshal Kwizera on the 12-man team that is captained by the experienced spiker Jean Luc Ndayikengurukiye.

Other players on the team include Cesar Rubayita, Benjamin Kangabo, Alphonse Nsengiyumva, Charles Nkurunziza, Luke Kagabo, Guillaume Irakarama, Eric Nsabimana, Yakan Guma, Fidele Nyirimana and Alexis Nkuranga.

After naming the squad, the French tactician said, "I have confidence in this team. It is more dynamic, coherent and strong”.

Rwanda has everything to play for after a below par performance in 2007.

On top of failing to secure a place in last year’s All Africa Games after finishing third in the qualifiers that were staged in Sudan, Rwanda also failed to get past the pool stages of the CAN.

Meanwhile, Egypt was among the first nations to arrive in South Africa for the qualifiers and on touching base, the team’s head coach Ahmed Zakaria said, "We want to complete our achievements in 2007 by winning the African vacancy in the Olympic Games. We know that we will face high quality teams like Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon and Nigeria but we are focused on the task ahead”.

Last year, Egypt was undisputable after winning gold medals in the All Africa Games and the African Cup of Nations (CAN).

The North African nation also produced Africa’s best ever performance in a FIVB (International Federation of Volleyball) competition when they won a total of three matches in the 2007 World Cup in Japan.

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