Under-19 volleyball team starts World Cup preps

THE national youth volleyball team, Under-19 has started intensive preparations ahead of this year’s World Youth Championships which will be held in the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Mexicali from June 27 to July 7.The national team head coach Jean Marie Nsengiyumva engaged the youth team into early preparations over the weekend at Amahoro indoor stadium.Nsengiyumva who is assisted by Kayonga Ntawangandi have boosted the national team with four players who were not part of the squad that snatched the World Cup ticket in Algeria last month.The players include; Jean Paul Ndacyayisenga [younger brother to Rwandan international Pierre Marshal Kwizera], Placide, Habarugira, Samuel ‘Tyson’ Niyogisubizo and Fabrice Rugina.However, Niyogisubizo is not part of the team because he is currently with the U-21 team which is taking part in the African junior tournament in Tunisia.Rwanda qualified for the World championship after winning a bronze medal at last month’s CAVB Youth Championship held in Algeria.The youthful squad won only one match against hosts Algeria 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23) but lost the two remaining matches against Tunisia 3-0 and Egypt 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, and 25-22) respectively.Rwanda will face elite teams at the global showpiece which includes Serbia, Spain, Cuba, France, Argentina, Bulgaria, Greece, China, Brazil, Iran, USA, Egypt, Russia, Korea, Puerto Rico and Tunisia.Provisional team;Jean Paul Ndacyayisenga, Placide, Habarugira, Fabrice Rugina, Sylvestre Ndayisabye, Jean Claude Ndacyayisenga, Samuel ‘Tyson’ Niyogisubizo, Robert Nshimiyimana, Patrick Ruzindana, Diogène Mukotanyi, Jacques Iradukunda, Jean Luc Rutayisire, Bosco Hishamunda, Elias Ndagano, Oreste Muhirwa Gabo and Eugène Nkotanyi.

Sports

Under-19 volleyball team starts World Cup preps