Rwanda U-18 girls in narrow loss to Kenya

VolleyballRwanda 2-3 Kenya TodayRwanda vs Botswana - 1pm BasketballRwanda w/o Nigeria TodayRwanda vs Mali - 12pm Mozambique vs Rwanda - 2pm GABORONE – Rwanda’s U-18 girls’ volleyball team put up a spirited performance but still lost their opening game to Kenya in the African Youth Games Championship yesterday at the Institute of Health Science in Molepolole. Paul Bitok’s girls lost 3-2 to Kenya. They lost the first set 27-29, but bounced back to claim the second set 25-14. The third set was claimed by Kenya 21-25 and took the fourth set 25-17, hence forcing the winner to be decided on a decisive set. It was not easy for the Rwandan girls as they failed to make good blocks and receptions giving a 15-5 win to Kenyans in the fifth set. Speaking to Sunday Sport, Bitok said, “We played a very good match but in the fifth set we lost concentration and we gave Kenyans a chance to open up 5-1 which for a young player to recover was not easy.” Despite losing, Rwanda has secured one point which is vital in their campaign to emerge among the top three ranked nations. Meanwhile, Nigeria has replaced DR Congo who failed to show up for the championship. Rwanda face hosts Botswana today before taking on South Africa on May 26. The junior girls will then square off with Mauritius on May 27. On May 28, they will face Nigeria; rest on May 29 before locking horns against Egypt in the final match of the tournament on May 30. Basketball Moise Mutokambali’s side won maximum points in their opening game of the 3*3 basketball tournament without dropping a sweat after their opponents Nigeria failed to honour the match. They will today face Mali and Mozambique with a mission of maintaining a clean sheet to be able to face a lighter opponent in the last eight from Group A. The last group game is against Algeria on May 26. Swimming Alphonse Agahozo mase no positive mark after failing to make it to the finals of the 50m freestyle and butterfly events respectively. In 50m freestyle, she finished 26th, clocking 31.00 seconds before registering the same position in 50 butterfly where she clocked 34.43 seconds, all in the heat stages where only best eight athletes reached the final round. She is expected to make her last appearance for Rwanda when she takes part in the 100m breaststroke today. Also today Boxing, cycling and table tennis teams will be in action today at Botho University, Botswana Youth Centre and University of Botswana respectively.