Long season forces Rugby Cranes to hold back

KAMPALA.

Yes, Uganda don’t often win the Elgon Cup. In fact, in 12 editions, Kenya have won the two-team competition on nine occasions. Most of those victories have been by razor thin margins.

Failing to win the Elgon Cup has not stalled Rugby Cranes that much as they won the Africa Cup back in 2007, beating Kenya 24-12 enroute the final.

However, last year felt like the gulf between Uganda and Kenya is growing again back to the 1990s when the latter amassed margins in excess of 50 points.

Kenya Simbas crushed Cranes 48-10 in the first leg here before thrashing the Ugandans 45-24 in Nairobi to recapture the Elgon Cup on 93-34 aggregate. Wow!

You expected Uganda to have built desperation that would make today’s clash at Legends a do-or-die encounter for the hosts seeking to reassure fans about their abilities.

Six debutants
Instead, coach Robert Seguya named a 23-man team that has six debutants. Ivan Kirabo, Adnan Mutebi, Musa Muwonge, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Robert Aziku and Eric Mula will get their first cap.
The notable absentees include Ivan Markmot, Matthias Ochwo, Ronald Mussajagulanyago and Chris Lubanga among others as Seguya and John Duncan gamble to keep the squad fresh for a long season.

With the all-important Africa Gold Cup starting later this month, Seguya has stated that the Elgon Cup is not a priority.
“The Elgon Cup first leg will be treated as a high profile trial game,” Seguya told Score. “It makes no sense winning here only to be floored in Nairobi, we would have lost the Elgon Cup and lost yards in the Gold Cup.”

In an attempt to amplify the pool, as many as 60 players were summoned for a year that brings six internationals, the most Uganda has played in a calendar season.
Those were trimmed to 40. Besides the 23, the 17 not selected for today’s game remain part of the set-up.

Tweaking
Within the 23, Seguya and Duncan have made some bold decisions. Kenyan-based Scum-half Kirabo and fly-half Ivan Magomu will play together for Uganda for the first time.
Pius Ogena, a flanker last year, shifts to first center to join Michael Wokorach in midfield. This was done for Lawrence Sebuliba who moved from flank to wing in 2015 and delivered stellar performances.

Ogena must be hoping for the same kind of effect. Also, James Odong, mostly a fullback for his club, starts on the wing while Justin Kimono starts on the bench having not played competitively for two years.
Whether these will be too many experiments for one laboratory remains to be seen.

Kenya’s choice
Like Uganda, Kenya, aware of the bigger fish to fry come starting later this month, they have chosen some inexperienced hands after the 30-29 home defeat to Germany in a buildup game.

Coach Jerome Paarwater is likely to hand Impala Saracens front row James Kubasu a debut from the bench in a team captained by Darwin Mukidza (KCB) in the absence of lock Wilson K’Opondo.

The weakened side has veteran Biko Adema starting at fly-half and not inside centre. The South African coach has credible firepower to call upon among whom is England-based Joshua Chisanga.
Newcastle Falcons backrow played a prominent role in Rugby Cranes’ 52-11 loss during the 2013 Africa Cup in Madagascar.

RUGBY CRANES’ SCHEDULE
ELGON CUP – TODAY
June 10 Uganda vs. Kenya
AFRICA GOLD CUP
June 24: Kenya vs. Uganda
July1: Senegal vs. Uganda
July 15: Uganda vs. Tunisia
July 22: Uganda vs. Namibia
Aug 5: Uganda vs. Zimbabwe