South Sudan is hoping to field a strong volleyball team at the Accra 2023 African Games with national team coach Marna Paul Puk saying preparations are in full swing.
According to Puk, South Sudan is targeting to qualify for the African Games at the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone 5 qualifiers.
The former national team player said that the entire coaching staff is working hard to recruit talented youngsters before the crucial qualifiers.
“Preparations are ongoing in order for South Sudan to present a formidable team at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, Puk told ACLSports.
“South Sudan is in CAVB Zone 5 consisting of Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia.
“Our plan is to pick one of the available slots for the games.”
Puk also spoke about how strengthening the domestic league would help develop the sport in the country.
He also stressed on the need for more encouragement at the grassroots level to improve the volleyball squad.
“The modalities is to start working hard from the grass-root level and creating more volleyball academics to promote the young ones, but also working to recruit new talented players in the national team.
“I would love to play against teams like; Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda and Morocco if given the opportunity by the South Sudan Volleyball Federation because I believe they will have a huge impact on my team.”
Cameroon are the defending men’s volleyball champions at the African Games.
They beat Algeria 3-1 in the final in Morocco.
The 2023 Africa Games is scheduled to be held from August 4 to 19.
By Vimal Sankar
