In pursuit of the ‘American Dream’
Utility back Joseph Aredo trains with the Rugby Sevens team recently. Rugby Cranes kick off the defence of the Africa Rugby Sevens against Ghana today. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
- Rugby. Cranes will try and defend the title won in 2016. The tournament serves as a a qualifier for the World Cup Sevens due next year in San Francisco, USA.
KAMPALA. American Congressman Jim Jordan once said; “If you are not willing to work, you are never going to experience the American dream”.
The Rugby Sevens Cranes are chasing their own version of the American dream by aiming to qualify for the 2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup at the iconic AT&T Park in San Francisco, USA.
Jordan’s piece of advice is one the national sevens side cannot afford to ignore, they have to work for their World Cup slot when the small matter of the Africa Cup starts today at Legends Rugby Football Club.
There is no shortcut - make the final and the San Francisco plans can start.
For coach Tolbert Onyango, Uganda wants nothing less than World Cup qualification with two slots up for grabs for the winner and the runner up.
“We want to play at the World Cup and we can only achieve that by playing our part on the pitch,” he told Daily Monitor.
The focus in the Cranes camp is up there, not even the Munich misfortunes that saw three players Brian Kikawa, Fred Odur and Ramathan Govule go missing can deter them, they have moved on.
“We are only thinking about what we can control, we have moved on and our only goal is to win the Africa Cup at home,” he stated.
Botswana, Ghana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are all in the country for the same cause as Uganda, making it the biggest rugby show Uganda has ever hosted.
Zambia ready to seize the moment
Cranes coach Onyango has already pointed Zambia as the side to watch out for as he kept a close eye on them in recent times. The Zambians have also made it clear they are not here to make numbers.
“Everything is good. The boys are in good shape and we are here to beat anyone that comes up against us, we want to play in the World Cup just as everyone else,” said coach Andrew Kaminsa.
AFRICA RUGBY SEVENS FIXTURES - PLAYING TODAY, FRIDAY OCTOBER 6.
Ghana vs. Tunisia 9:30am
Zambia vs. Morocco 9:52am
Mauritius vs. Zimbabwe 10:14am
Botswana vs. Senegal 10:36am
Uganda vs. Ghana 10:58am
Tunisia vs. Zambia 11:20am
Madagascar vs. Mauritius 12:04pm
Zimbabwe vs. Botswana 12:26pm
Zambia vs. Uganda 12:48pm
Morocco vs. Tunisia 1:10pm
Botswana vs. Madagascar 1:54pm
Senegal vs. Zimbabwe 2:16pm
Uganda vs. Morocco 3:00pm
Zambia vs. Ghana 3:22pm
Madagascar vs. Senegal 3:44pm
Botswana vs. Mauritius 4:06pm
Tunisia vs. Uganda 4:28pm
Morocco vs. Ghana 4:50pm
Zimbabwe vs. Madagascar 5:12pm
Senegal vs. Mauritius 5:34pm
