The national junior Volleyball team will start preparations for this year’s African Cup of Nations, CAN next month.

The 36-man provisional team is scheduled to regroup on 15 April either in Kigali or Butare.

The team’s training expenses will be jointly footed by the Ministry of youth, sports and Culture (Mijespoc) and the local volleyball governing body, FRVB.

Tunisia is among those countries vying to host the CAN event.

"We have been invited and are optimistic that the team will perform well," said Gertrude Kubwimana, FRVB Executive Secretary, "Most of the youngsters are fresh from the inter-school championship".

The players were selected from 400 participants who competed in a national talent detection event that was held last year.

Kubwimana said the federation has plans to expose the players to more international competitions so that they form a strong future youth team for the 2012 London Olympics.

The senior male team emerged 5th in last year’s CAN tournament.

Meanwhile, national vice coach, Emmanuel Nduguntse has left for Switzerland to attend a two-months coaching course under the International Olympics Solidarity, IOC, and RNOC, Rwanda National Olympics Committee.

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