Kicking could decide final encounter

Without Jude Keremundu (relocated to the US), either Jonathan Onen or Benon Kiiza will do the kicking for Heathens in case Jasper Ochan doesn’t start.

Had Japser Ochan found his range, MTN Heathens would never have lost to DMark Kobs in the Nile Special Rugby Premier League earlier this year.

Kobs’ 13-11 triumph came down to kicking. Ochan missed three kicks, a conversion and two penalties. The opposing Kevin Markmot made a conversion and two penalties out of four attempts for Kobs. Simon Wakabi wanted to take the final kick as Kobs trailed 10-11 only for the skipper Brian Odong to overrule him and keep the cone with Markmot. It paid off and today’s Uganda Cup final could come down to kicking.

Heathens coach Brian Tabaruka offers the same trust. “We live and die with him,” he has repeatedly said in defence of the young Ochan. “He is our number one kicker though that doesn’t mean he will definitely start.”
Ochan, a fly-half in his earlier years at U-19 level, has had to fill in as outside centre whenever Michael Wokorach is injured. “He kicks so well at training and in the warm-up,” Tabaruka said.

Against G4S Pirates in the semifinal which Heathens won 20-9, they missed four kicks, three of them relatively easy.

His options are narrow though Heathens have been radical before. In the aftermath of Benon Kiiza missing three of four to lose the 2010 Uganda 14-10 to Kobs, his kicking duties were taken away.

Even though Markmot is injured, Kobs have better armoury. Any of either Joseph Aredo, the Wakabi brothers, Simon and Lawrence, if they play, is better than any of the Heathens’ kickers.

ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com