Cairo, Egypt, February 28, 2005 - The Egyptian Volleyball Federation (FEVB) has decided to change the venue of the Women’s African First Round tournament of the 2006 World Championship from the Cairo Stadium complex to Abdalla Alfaysal Hall in Al-Ahly club in Cairo in order to cater for an expected bumper crowd.

The Abdalla Alfaysal Hall has already hosted two big competitions this year namely, the 2005 Girls U-18 African Nations Championship and the 23rd Arab Cup of Clubs Champions.

The tournament will be held March 17-19 with four competitors; Egypt, Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa.

“Al-Ahly hall will be more appropriate to host the big FIVB event,” said CAVB and FEVB President, Dr. Amr Elwani. “The new venue will attract more spectators to this prestigious event as occurred in the previous competitions this year. We hope for a good, competitive tournament in order to have a strong team representing the continent in the 2006 World Championship final round in Japan.”

The winner of the tournament will book a spot in the final round.

The Botswana women’s team, who are now preparing in a local camp, will arrive in Cairo on March 15. South Africa, meanwhile, started preparations two months ago under their Egyptian coach, Abdel Hamid Elwassimy.

The host team, Egypt went into camp on February 19 under the leadership of experienced coach Hesham Badrawy. They will have a ten-day camp in Alexandria just prior to the competition.