Cup fever as Pirates face Heathens

Tight grip. Heathens veteran hooker Alex Mubiru (L) desperately clings onto Pirates’ flank Godwin Barnet Ahimbisibwe in a league encounter at Kyadondo last year. Photo by Eddie Chicco

What you need to know:

  • Rugby. Pirates say that they have no revenge on their minds when they face Heathens in today’s Uganda Cup final but are only looking to repeat the heroics of 2007 as they aim to end a 10-year wait for silverware.

Kampala.

Losing a Cup final in the dying minutes of a game can be devastating and it can either break or make you.
Buzz Pirates thought they had walked away with last year’s Uganda Cup diadem with the game at 17-15 only for Michael Wokorach to spoil their party with a last gasp try.
That finish gave Hima Heathens a fourth title in as many years with the game ending 20-17. The fact that they are back in the final confirms that last year’s disappointment has been a learning platform for them - one that did not destroy them but built them for tougher times in the future.
“We do take all losses as learning experiences, said Pirates coach Bobby Musinguzi.
“Last year’s was one of them. It galvanised the team to work much harder to get to where we are now. We are still a work in progress but moving in the right direction.”
Towards the end of the previous league campaign, Pirates recorded wins over Kobs and Heathens in a space of seven days - an unusual occurrence.

Bigger prize
With Kobs already tucked away, Heathens wait in line and there’s even a bigger prize in a first Uganda Cup in a decade for the Sea Robbers if they stop Heathens this afternoon at Kyadondo Rugby Club.
Revenge sometimes fuels success but Musinguzi has another alternative of getting there without it (revenge) in mind but playing good rugby.
“We have got no revenge on mind. Playing good rugby is all we are thinking of,” he said.
Heathens are not flying like their counterparts but they know how to play finals and win titles. Eleven Cup wins in 18 attempts is an adorable record that deserves respect and captain Wokorach can afford to warn Pirates not to dwell on the unconvincing manner in which they disposed Buffaloes 3-0 in their semifinal.
“Yes we had a very poor semifinal,” concurred Wokorach. “But it wouldn’t be a safe place for them to come with that mentality. Because we have worked so hard this week to sort out ourselves and we are more than hungry for victory.”
Before the final kicks off, Buffaloes will play six time champions Betway Kobs in the third place play-off final.

TODAY AT KYADONDO RFC

Uganda Cup final
Heathens vs. Pirates, 4pm
Third place play-off
Buffaloes vs. Kobs, 2pm

Road to final

Round one
Walukuba 6 – 59 Heathens
Rams 0 – 59 Pirates
Quarterfinals
Pirates 43-11 Hippos
Heathens 47-3 Warriors
Semifinals
Kobs 23-25 Pirates
Heathens 3-0 Buffaloes