RWANDA’s volleyball team head coach is targeting a podium finish in the forthcoming All Africa Games due in Maputo, Mozambique. Paul Bitok set his targets after naming a strong 12-man team over the weekend.

"We will go to Maputo focused on winning silverware. If we can reach the semi final, then I will be confident of podium finish.

"I have a good crop of young players and if we play to our full potential, I don’t see why we can’t go all the way to the podium,” said Bitok.

The volleyball competition in Maputo will attract ten teams and regular threat Egypt been replaced with Kenya. Egypt has pulled out of the continental championship to concentrate on World Cup qualifiers, Olympic qualifiers as well as the World league series.

The national volleyball team joins nine other sports disciplines which will have participants in Maputo namely; basketball, boxing, beach volleyball, athletics, tennis, karate, swimming, cycling and sport for the disabled.

Most of the national team representatives are hoping to use Games as a plat form to qualify for next year's London Olympic Games.

In the last edition held in Algiers in 2007, Dieudonne Disi came closest to winning a medal when he finished fourth in the half marathon.

The Men’s volleyball team:

Eric Nsabimana, Christophe Mukunzi, Aimable Mutuyimana, Laurence Yakan Guma, Athanase Bigirimana, Bonny Mutabazi, Elvis Kagimbura, Emile Karera, Bosco Mutabazi, Pierre Marshal Kwizera, Vincent Dusabimana Gasongo and Placide Madison Sibomana.

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