March 14, 2005 - The Mauritius men’s national team has stepped up a gear this week in their preparation for the 2006 World Championship first round tournament (Africa Pool B) in South Africa, which will run from April 8-10.

Coach Fayzal Bundhun is now working on game tactics after more than one month of physical training.

"We will be increasing the training volume slightly and it will continue like this until our departure for South Africa," Bundhun said.

Bundhun’s squad, which consists of eighteen members, is training four times a week and although his preparation plans had been disrupted with four top players missing in action due to injury, spiker Gilbert Alfred, skipper Neeraj Mounien, libero Dominique Surnois and left handed spiker Olivier Alfred are all now fit and reporting for duty.

Starting on Monday, Mauritius will begin a series of friendly matches against club teams. The first one is scheduled against ASJ Chebel who claimed sixth place last season.

The 2006 World Championship first round tournament (Africa Pool B) in South Africa will feature three teams - South Africa, Mauritius and Botswana – with the winner advancing through to the second round. The Mauritius technical staff are confident of reaching the second round in Tunisia (July 26-30) having already beaten South Africa two times out of three and beaten Botswana once in 2003.

By Tarek Al-Adwar, CAVB Press Officer.