Black Pirates reaping from schools’ rugby

Youngster Aaron Kasozi impressed against Heathens. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

What you need to know:

  • Herbert Gutaka, Ronald Tusiime Ronald and Etuket were the only survivors from the side that fell to Kobs 29-5 in the 2011 Uganda Cup final in Jinja.
  • After G4S left four years ago, Pirates struggled financially until Buzz, a local events company, along with Little Ritz restaurant, Lugogo, came in.

KAMPALA. Victors are known to write history the way they would want. Black Pirates may not have beaten Hima Cement Heathens on Saturday but their journey is remarkable.
The beaten Nile Special Uganda Cup finalists, who lost by 20-17 margin at Legends Rugby Club, have an intriguing story that is worth telling.
The last time Pirates got to the final was in 2011. Back then, it was down to mega spending in bringing in Lawrence Buyanchi, Kelvin Omiyo and Scot Oluoch among others.
Having discovered that they weren’t going to ‘buy’ the trophy from the cusp of Heathens and Betway Kobs, who now share 18 titles, Pirates turned to schools.

“Pirates don’t have the money like Kobs, Heathens or (Shell Rimula) Rhinos,” Denis Etuket, a 16-year veteran with Pirates, told Daily Monitor.
“So, we rely on tapping talent from schools like Kings College Buddo which we are attached to.”
Herbert Gutaka, Ronald Tusiime Ronald and Etuket were the only survivors from the side that fell to Kobs 29-5 in the 2011 Uganda Cup final in Jinja.
Pirates had seven Uganda Cup debutants among them teenagers William Nkore, Owen Babiiha, David Busingye, Timothy Kisiga, Eric Otim, Arnold Lacula and William Mucunguzi.

Those have learnt a lot from ‘veterans’ Marvin Odongo, Ivan Magomu, Conrad Wanyama and Musa Muwonge who have been at the club for a large part of the past four seasons.
What Pirates are doing now is something Kobs have done before with Namilyango College.
Heathens also have their straws in Hana Mixed School and beyond. Gone are the days when G4S, a British multinational security services company sponsored them.
After G4S left four years ago, Pirates struggled financially until Buzz, a local events company, along with Little Ritz restaurant, Lugogo, came in.