Newly appointed nationwide volleyball group head coach Frederic Guerin has declared that his ambition is to show Rwanda right into a continental powerhouse, insisting that settling for second or third place just isn’t a part of his imaginative and prescient.
The French tactician, who arrived in Rwanda in April, believes the nation possesses the expertise and fervour wanted to compete with Africa's greatest. Nonetheless, he says attaining that purpose would require higher funding in native gamers and collective efforts from all stakeholders concerned within the sport.
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Talking to Instances Sport in an unique interview, Guerin stated his final goal is to information Rwanda's nationwide groups to the summit of African volleyball.
“I've seen that the gamers actually love what they do. They’ve ardour and spirit. With that mentality, I don't need to be third or second,” he famous.
“After all, reaching the highest requires collaboration. It's not solely me who’s going to vary issues. Everybody should work collectively. However our goal ought to be to develop into champions,” he added.
Guerin takes cost at a time when Rwanda's males's nationwide group is ranked sixth in Africa whereas the ladies's group occupies fourth place on the continent.
His first project shall be main the lads's nationwide group on the upcoming 2026 African Senior Males's Volleyball Championship.
Since arriving within the nation, the 54-year-old coach has been assessing the extent of volleyball by way of the 2025/26 Nationwide Volleyball League season and the African Males's Volleyball Membership Championship.
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Regardless of being impressed by the progress made by Rwandan golf equipment, Guerin believes native gamers should be given extra alternatives if the nationwide groups are to realize sustained success.
“I don't know precisely but as a result of I'm nonetheless discovering the league, however once I watch golf equipment right here, I see fewer Rwandan gamers on the court docket in comparison with international gamers. That could be a concern for me,” he stated.
“Internet hosting the African Males's Membership Championship was superb and confirmed the nation's potential, however it isn’t sufficient if native gamers should not occupying extra positions on the court docket,” he added.
Guerin additionally made it clear that nationwide group choice beneath his management shall be based mostly solely on advantage moderately than age or fame.
“For me, the very best gamers have to play. Whether or not you’re younger or outdated, I don't care. Should you can’t carry out in coaching, there isn’t any area for you in my group,” he stated.
“The vital factor just isn’t a person participant; the vital factor is the nationwide group.”
Revered for his tactical self-discipline and player-development philosophy, Guerin has beforehand coached a number of golf equipment in France, together with AS Cannes, Good Volley-Ball and Cambrai Volley.
