THE Senior volleyball national team will start preparations on October 19 for the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship Qualifiers, which will be held in Poland.

The Zone 5 World Championship Qualifiers tournament will be held in Kigali from November 25 to December 1.

According to the Rwanda Volleyball Federation Secretary General, Christian Hatumimana, the team will go into residential training from October 19 with only local players and the professionals will join camp two weeks later.

Among the pros expected to beef up the team is skipper Christophe Mukunzi, who this week joined Algerian first division club El Fanar and Lawrence Yakan Guma, who plays for Etoile Sportive de Setif also of Algeria.

The team will be under the tutelage of ex-Kenyan international player, Paul Bitok, who will be assisted by Kigali Volleyball Club head coach Jean Marie Nsengiyumva.

After successfully hosting the Sub Zone tournament in June, the Africa Volleyball Confederation awarded Rwanda the  rights to host the Zone 5 World Championship Qualifiers.

With home advantage, Rwanda will be regarded as favourites when they host Zone V Championship which will attract regional rival’s Kenya, Uganda and Burundi as well as African giants Egypt.

The top three teams will progress to the final round, which will determine the top three, who will represent Africa in World Championships in Poland.