Buteme named Lady Cranes 7s coach
Kampala.
Uganda Lady Cranes’ preparations for the September 17-18 Rugby Afrique 7s tournament in Zimbabwe have started with the appointment of former national team captain, Helen Koyokoyo Buteme, as the interim coach. According to an appointment letter from Uganda Rugby Union (URU) Chief Executive Officer, Ramsey Olinga, Buteme was taken up “immediately on express appointment by the URU secretary”.
“Once the executive committee gets the terms of reference and targets from the technical committee, we shall revert formally,” reads the letter in part.
The post has been vacant following Allan Musoke’s resignation in June. Buteme, who was the strength and conditioning coach under Musoke, faces an immediate task of preparing the team that departs to Zimbabwe in a fortnight’s time.
Buteme holds a World Rugby Level II coaching certificate and is also a World Rugby Level I strength and conditioning coach.
A legend of the game, Buteme is undoubtedly the face of women’s rugby in Uganda. She was one of the first women to hold a rugby ball when the sport was introduced in 2003.
In 2009, she captained the Lady Cranes at the 7s World Cup in Dubai. She retired in 2014. Buteme is also credited with forming a number of clubs including Black Panthers, Entebbe Sharks and Walukuba Titans. She is also the only Ugandan to play in the English Premiership (with Thurrock Thunderbirds in 2013). She starts work tomorrow with a fitness test for the squad.
