Rwanda Volleyball Federation is planning to engage the national junior men's team in a friendly match against their Kenyan counterparts in early February ahead of the CAVB African Championships, scheduled for February 28 to March 9 in Tunisia.

Rwanda Volleyball Federation chairman Philbert Mutwarasibo confirmed the development yesterday. "I have talked to my Kenyan counterparts, Wathiaka Kione regarding the friendly match proposal and we have come to an agreement."

"We will travel to Kenya for the friendly match in early Ferbuary with a view helping our national junior team gain experience and exposure ahead of the African championships," added Mutwarasibo.

Meanwhile, the national junior team will be engaged in friendly matches on the local scene, against APR volleyball club, Kigali Volleyball Club, INATEK, National University of Rwanda, among others.

"The players are gaining match fitness but they need to raise the game much higher and this is why we need them to play many more friendly matches."

"I have much confidence that if they get to play many matches, they will head into the African championships with high hopes," noted Mutwarasibo.

The national men's junior team qualified to compete in the continental show piece after Morocco, which had finished third during the qualifying tournament held in Libya in 2010, withdrew.

In 2010, under Brazilian coach Paulo de Tarsio, Rwanda's U-20 reached top four in Africa for the first time after finishing on fourth position, behind Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

Tunisia is the host of the African Junior Volleyball Championship (boys) .