Rhino’s bellow wants to be heard, finally
Kampala.
Thursday marked nine years since the Rugby Cranes won the Africa Cup in Madagascar, beating the hosts 42-11 in the biggest 15s tournament on the continent outside tests played by South Africa.
Today is the one-week anniversary of the national 7s team that joined their 15s counterparts as continental champions with that triumph last Saturday in Kenya, beating Namibia 38-19.
Members of those two triumphant sides will be at the centre of the Nile Special Uganda Cup kicking off today at eight venues as the knockout tournament wraps up the 2015/16 local rugby season.
Even if Mathias Ochwo and Philip Wokorach belong to different generations in the game, they may well comprise the biggest storylines of this year’s Uganda Cup.
Ochwo, an African champion from 2007, will make his Shell Rimula Rhino bow at UCU following his move from Hima Cement Heathens, Wokorach’s club side that propelled him to becoming the toast of 7s rugby.
The former Rugby Cranes captain is part of the influx of talent that has made Rhino dominate the buildup to this season’s tournament though Heathens are the title holders.
“We want to win everything from the Uganda Cup to the league. Things are going to be different and no one should take us light(ly),” newly appointed Rhino coach Brian Makalama told Saturday Monitor.
After a forever-promising phase that hasn’t won anything of note, Makalama’s bellow is backed by signings that also include travelled loose forward Scot Oluoch.
Their problems may as well lie elsewhere as Rhino are perennially poor finishers from the backline, something Wokorach will give new Heathens’ coach Mohammed Athiyo when they start the title defence at Mbale Elephants.
Athiyo needs to avert a ‘minor’ crisis as his predecessor, legend Robert Seguya, was ‘promoted’ to development after 11 months in charge that saw rivals Betway Kobs win the league and 7s titles.
“I want to be judged after my first challenge as coach for the Uganda Cup,” Athiyo, who starts his coaching stint with a CV to match previous occupants in the job, said.
Kobs’ quest for a season sweep kicks off at Kyadondo where they face KK Stallions whereas Toyota Buffaloes will ask questions of the favourites when they visit Kyambogo.
In the other game, Black Pirates travel to Jinja to face Walukuba in the immediate after math of unveiling plans to build their own facility.
Rhino might need lessons from Pirates as the latter have previously ventured into these late-year signings before but none of that has stopped Kobs and Heathens from winning titles.
Today at 4:30pm
Mbale Elephants vs Heathens
KK Stallions vs Kobs
Jinja Hippos vs Warriors
UCU vs Rhinos
Gulu Elephants vs Mongers
Walukuba vs Pirates
Kyambogo vs Buffaloes
Rams vs Impis
