Pirates must shed nearly men tag
What you need to know:
RUGBY. Pirates have been perfect bridesmaids. First, they sent Kobs out of the way then handed the title to Heathens. Two years later, Heathens were the victims and Kobs the beneficiaries.
KAMPALA.
There have been so many moments that could have finished with Black Pirates breaking the eternal duopoly of Betway Kobs and Hima Cement Heathens over the game here.
Some of those moments are more pronounced than others save for 2007 when Pirates won the Nile Special Uganda Cup albeit its tainted nature emanating from a player registration controversy.
In the same season, Pirates finished second in the Nile Special Rugby Premier League. However, the most vindictive and dampening finale for the 20-year old club came in 2009.
Back then, Kampala Rugby Club, today’s Legends, was engulfed in its loudest noise when Oscar Opio picked a high ball, raced the entire length of the pitch, beating wing Allan Musoke, to touchdown.
The winger, for whom little is known ever since, and Ronald Tusiime scored memorable tries as Pirates thrashed Kobs 17-3 to take charge of the destiny of the league heading into the final two games.
Seven days later, Heathens laid down a marker in pummeling Pirates 25-14 at Kyadondo to get into the picture for the first time that season.
A 16-16 draw with Kobs at Kampala thereafter sealed Heathens’ fourth league title, the first since 2005.
From then on, the gulf between them started growing as Heathens beat Pirates 21-12 in the Uganda Cup semifinal before annihilating Kobs 44-5 in the final.
Winning all four legs of the 7s circuit and cruising to the Hima-Makerere 10s crown acted as icing sugar on a very tasty cake for an all-conquering Heathens.
Pirates were the perfect bridesmaids. First, they sent Kobs out of the way then handed the title to Heathens. Two years later, Heathens were the victims and Kobs the beneficiaries.
After getting to the final, Pirates were hammered 29-5 in a lop-sided Uganda Cup final by Kobs played in Jinja. You could have been forgiven for thinking that they favourites.
The thrill they brought to the tournament was enormous. In all these cases, Pirates were meant to be the team-to-beat in the superseding seasons.
Just when you thought Pirates, for whom the only mainstay Sam Ahamya, often refers to as an experiment “similar to sitting on a mat of pins”, then slid into an abyss.
Their place as the third-best team in Uganda was challenged by Toyota Buffaloes who found ways to beat Kobs consistently, even finishing second in the league.
Last Saturday represented reprieve for Pirates, who lost to Heathens in last year’s Uganda Cup semifinal 32-25 under some dubious refereeing calls, as they beat Kobs 27-22 to reach today’s final.
By far the better side in the sun, the margin doesn’t do justice to Pirates for whom halfbacks Conrad Wanyama and Ivan Magomu, and eighth man Marvin Odongo were stellar.
Even as the players took off in different directions like white ants emerging from an ant hill and most hugged while others jumped on teammates’ backs, Pirates will know that result counts for nothing.
Beating Heathens, the 10-time Uganda Cup winners, today is everything. Yesterday is gone, today is here and tomorrow, Pirates will want to remind us that they aren’t just nearly men.
UGANDA CUP TOP SCORERS
Keith Sseruyange (Kobs) 7
Ramathan Govule (Kobs) 4
Solomon Okia (Buffaloes) 4
Daudi Ssemwami (Rhino) 4
POINTS
James Ijongat (Kobs) 54 points
Nile Uganda Cup
RECENT WINNERS
2015: Heathens
2014: Heathens
2013: Heathens
2012: Kobs
2011: Kobs
2010: Kobs
2009: Heathens
2008: Kobs
2007: Pirates
2006: Kobs
2005: Kobs
2004: Heathens
2003: Heathens
2002: Heathens
2001: Heathens
2000: Heathens
1999: Heathens
