THE NATIONAL women’s sitting volleyball team has started residential training ahead of the world sitting volleyball championship qualifiers’ tournament scheduled for November in Kampala, Uganda.Rwanda’s female sitting volleyball team which will be making their maiden debut in international competition, started earlier preparations for the continental qualifiers so that they can book a slot in next year’s world championships to be held in Poland.The team is camping at Heroes’ Corner in Remera but without the usual national sitting volleyball men’s team Dutch coach Peter Karreman, who the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) could not afford to pay for this particular competition.Instead, the team is being handled by Elie Manirarora, who is assisted by Carine Isimbi and Solange Nyirangirababyeyi."We will do everything possible to qualify for the world championships,” vowed acting head coach Manirarora yesterday.Only the winner of the qualifiers’ tournament will earn an automatic qualification and that is the place Rwanda, which has won the men’s world title in the past, will be looking for.Countries to compete are hosts Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.

The squad in camp

Lillian Mukobwankabo, Claudine Bazubagira, Brigitte Nikuze Zaninka, Alice Musabyemariya, Chantal Umurerwa, Chantal Murekatete, Solange Ingabire, Yvonne Imanishimwe, Carine Kwizera, Sandra Nyirambarushimana, Agnes Nyiranshimiyimana, Claudine Murebwayire and Yvonne Mukamuganga.