Freezing weather is posing the early challenge for Rwanda's junior volleyball national team coach Paul Bitok and his players even before the CABV Championships gets underway in Tunisia. The competition is due to run from February 28 to March 9.

"It is very cold here but we came early so that players can acclimatise to the weather before the tournament kicks off, but we hope it won't turn to affect their performances," Bitok told Times Sport from Tunis on Tuesday.

The former Kenyan international added, "We arrived here well, and have started to prepare to play one or two warm-up games before the real competition gets underway."

Bitok's team was scheduled to play the first warm-up game against Tunisian first division side Hamem Linf last evening.

Skipper Aimable Mutuyimana said that "Yeah! It is too cold here but we're being kept warm and we hope this problem will not affect us."

Egypt, hosts Tunisia and Algeria are the top teams in the competition.