Rugby
Oluoch makes U-turn, returns to Heathens
Oluoch (L) is tackled by lock Timothy Kabanero in his first stint with Heathens. Photo by Eddie Chicco
Posted Wednesday, January 18 2012 at 11:38
In Summary
Rugby. The Kenyan-born star led Pirates to last year’s Uganda Cup finals but they lost 29-5 to Kobs. He is now back at his former side, ready to fight for a place.
MTN Heathens’ quest for a fourth successive Nile Special Rugby League title received an early boost as forward Scot Oluoch returned to the side just five months after leaving for rivals G4S Pirates.
Oluoch left the champions in the aftermath of winning the league last year. “Scot actually re-signed for Heathens last Thursday at 2pm. It took everyone by surprise,” a source revealed.
The Kenyan-born Rugby Cranes star later confirmed the move. “Yes, I have gone back. My contract (with Pirates) was over,” Oluoch confirmed to Daily Monitor on Monday.
While in the white, black and red strip, he scored a try for Pirates to overcome Heathens 22-16 in last year’s Uganda Cup semifinals only to lose 29-5 in the final to another of his former sides, utl Kobs. “I chose Heathens for personal reasons,” Oluoch said. “I think I achieved at Pirates though it was less than what we had planned.” His coach Brian Tabaruka is more than pleased to have his talisman, voted by sports scribes as the Nile-Special Rugby Player of the Year in 2009, back. “He is such an asset,” said Tabaruka, whose team beat Makerere University Impis 59-3 in the league opener.
While Oluoch, 30 this April, was gone, Heathens had started re-molding their back row. Blindside flanker Robert Seguya left for Toyota Buffaloes leaving Mathias Ochwo with Roland Bahemuka and Arthur Mukama as partners. Oluoch, who can also play as a lock, changes the equation.
“I am going to fight for (a place in the) back row,” Oluoch, the 2009 Uganda Rugby Union (URU) most valuable player, vowed.
Tabaruka shares that sentiment. “I plan to use him as a loose forward (flank or eighth man) because of his mobility. You don’t want to tie down such a player,” he said.
Last year, Pirates shook the local rugby sphere when they signed Oluoch along with Kenyans Kelvin Omiyo and Sammy Wanchiru from Impala plus Joel Anguyo (Kobs). Only Anguyo remains now, perhaps an indictment on Pirates.
ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com
RSS