Mubiru remains nostalgic at 50 not out

KAMPALA. Today’s Africa Gold Cup match between Uganda and Namibia brings emotions to Alex Mubiru.
Alongside Mathias Ochwo, Mubiru is the only other player to have played against Namibia in 2007.
Ten years down the road, the veteran hooker remembers events surrounding the 20-19 win like they happened yesterday; “They were very pumped up but we stopped them. I made a try-saving tackle near the posts that I will never forget,” he starts.
Jack of all trades
Mubiru is an all-round sportsman. As a young boy at Kyambogo College, he started out as baseball player. He played for the national U-15 team in the Africa Baseball Championships and also played cricket for the college team.
“Kyambogo had many sports. So we could see the likes of Anthony Kinene, Ramsey Olinga, Amos Somoka, Mark Kitaka and Brian Tabaruka doing rugby. Later, with Allan Otim (Heathens teammate), we found ourselves trying out rugby as well. I started out as a flanker,” adds Mubiru.
Unknown to them, rugby was the sport that would shape their paths. “Our first game was Kyambogo against Heathens in the Uganda Cup. Of course Heathens won.”
But after the game, Tito Okuku, then Heathens captain, gave words of inspiration to the young Kyambogo team.
“I realised that rugby is a sport of brotherhood and that Heathens was a family of sorts. I worked hard and joined them in 2003. That is why I haven’t played for any other team in the National League,” Mubiru says with a smile.
Joining Heathens put Mubiru in the limelight. He earned his national 7s team debut in 2004 during the Dubai 7s, followed by the 15s debut in 2005. He has since donned the Rugby Cranes jersey 50 times.
Mr. Longevity
In 2007, Mubiru won the Africa Tier 1A Championship (current Africa Gold Cup) with Uganda. At Heathens, he has bagged nine Premiership League titles and eight Uganda Cups. But what keeps him going? “I always want to better my previous achievements. I take it one game at a time, which gives me enough time to concentrate on that particular game,” he shares.
Last Saturday, Mubiru played in his 50th game. And what a better way to crown his milestone by scoring a try in the 78-17 mauling of Tunisia! “Glory goes to God. Over the years, my teammates and coaches have been very supportive,” he says.
Team comes first
Mubiru stresses that rugby is a team sport, and therefore doesn’t buy into personal achievements.
“The team comes first. I want you to get me clear on this. We are 23 players on a match day. So you cannot start glorifying yourself at the expense of the other 22,” says Mubiru with a now stern look.
He also digs out some statistics. In his 12 years on the national team, he has only scored three tries!
“If I had wanted to put myself before the team, I would be having many tries now.”
During matches, your eye cannot miss Mubiru passing over instructions to teammates. And he credits that to the tutelage he got from his former ‘seniors’.
“The knowledge that I got from guys like him (pointing at former Cranes prop Brian Makalama) and Fred Mudoola was too helpful. It is the same knowledge I pass on to my current teammates. Team comes first,” he insists.
Mubiru, Cranes captain in 2013, also credits South African Mahlatse ‘Chiliboy’ Ralepelle, who mentored him into the hooker he is today.
Mubiru met Ralepelle in Pretoria in 2007 during a training tour.
Englishman James Hayter and Irishman Keith Wood are the other hookers that Mubiru idolises.

Message to Namibia: “When I step on the field, I will forget about 2007. This team is hungry to win.”