Rwanda’s World Cup participation in jeopardy

RWANDA’s beach volleyball team participation in the Women Junior World Championship due later this mionth has been put in jeopardy after the national team was denied travel visas by Canadian embassy based in Nairobi.The development was confirmed by the local volleyball federation’s Executive Director Gertrude Kubwimana yesterday. She said, “We are still waiting for Canadian embassy to take a final decision on our applications. A few days ago, they denied us visas but the government has since intervened.”“So until now, the matter is being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we are yet to know the final stand on the team’s request for visas to enable them compete in the World beach championship,” Kubwimana said.Kubwimana added that the team was due to travel to Canada on Sunday and by press time, the team was still unsure whether they will be able to represent the country in the global show piece.However, Rwanda is not the only country which has been denied visas. The Burundian men’s team has also been denied visas to represent Africa in the championship.If granted visas, the pair of Charlotte Nzayisenga and Denise Mutatsimpundu is to depart on Sunday for the Women Junior World Championship scheduled from August 29 to September 2.Nzayisenga and Mutatsimpundu were crowned African champions after beating South African players in the final of the African Women junior Championship, held in Togo last month.The pair has been undergoing intensive preparations in Rubavu, Western Province, under the tutelage of national volleyball team head coach Paul Bitok since August 12.The top six countries at the African junior championship namely South Africa, Nigeria, Guinea Conakry, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Rwanda will be in the hunt for global glory in Canada.

Sports

Rwanda’s World Cup participation in jeopardy