Africa Women Sitball qualifiers postponed

The 2013 women Sitball Volleyball World Championship Qualifiers have been postponed indefinitely after would be hosts Uganda failed to raise funds to organise the tournament in Kampala. Rwanda National Paralympic Committee (NPC) boss Celestin Nzeyimana confirmed the development to Times Sport yesterday, saying, “Uganda ruled out hosting the event on the last minute.” “They failed to secure sponsorship on time yet they meant to at least have two main courts to host the qualifiers,” added Nzeyimana, whose body he leads is fresh from host the fourth Sitball Men’s World Championships last month which was won by Germany after beating the hosts 49-47 in the final.According to a letter from the World Para volleyball Sports director Denis Le Breuilly, sent to various sports administrators, the cancellation of the event which had been set for November 4-11 at Lugogo will mean that no African women team will make it to the Paralympic Games. Eight countries had already confirmed participation in the qualifiers. Sitball is volleyball for the physically disabled and is one of the disciplines hosted in the Paralympic Games. “I was given assurance that the first para volleyball women championships will receive the support from the government and other organisations. On that basis, the event was awarded to Uganda and duly publicised worldwide,” said Breuilly in a letter sent to Uganda’s State Sports Minister Charles Bakkabulindi. “At this stage we have no officials to run the event, no equipment and a stadium that has received no attention. Needless to say, I am not impressed as I have put in months of work advising and planning,” Breuilly said. What Uganda failed to do?Uganda was meant to pay for flights, accommodation and allowances for international officials, purchase one international court and one training court including freight charges and taxes as well as increases the MTN Arena lighting to meet international standards. Ray of hopeNzeyimana confirmed that the world body is planning to seek another host with Egypt or Rwanda likely to host the African qualifiers in April next year ahead of the World Championships due in Poland in June. Friendly matchRwanda women’s sitting volleyball team which has been training for the last two months, is expected to play four matches against Uganda. The provisional team:Liliane Mukobwankabo, Claudine Bazubagira, Nikuze Zaninka, Solange Mukasanga, Yvonne Imanishimwe, Sandra Mbarushimana, Agnes Nshimiyimana, Claudine Murebwayire, Providence Musabyemariya, Egidia Nirere ndetse and Alice Musabyemariya.Coach: Jean Marie Nsengiyumva