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False start for Mudoola

Timothy Mudoola started his term as Kobs coach with a loss to Rhinos. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE 

What you need to know:

Mudoola was named Kobs head coach recently, replacing Victor Wadiya who took charge of the team last season.

Timothy Mudoola’s reign as Kobs head coach started with a shock 13-11 loss to Rhinos in his first game of the Uganda Rugby Premiership played Saturday at Legends Rugby Club.

The Legends derby started with the Blue Army on the front foot but ended in defeat as Rhinos reacted in the second half to start the season with a big win.

“Definitely, a tough start, not the way anyone would want to start,” Mudoola said after the defeat.

“We had a few mistakes here and there especially with our breakdown. That’s one of the sections I really have to work on in the coming week as I prepare for my second game,” the former Rugby Cranes star added.

Mudoola was named Kobs head coach recently, replacing Victor Wadiya who took charge of the team last season.

Good start

Team captain Derrick Tukwasiibwe got Kobs off the mark early in the game, touching down to give his side the lead. Josiah Sempeke missed the conversion before Rhinos’ response came.

Ivan Kirabo split the uprights to slice the deficit to 5-3 and it was Martial Tchumcam’s troops that were asking all the questions and playing in the right areas.

Kirabo had the opportunity to give Rhinos the lead but missed his penalty as Kobs held on for a 5-3 halftime advantage.

From the break, Sempeke fluffed another opportunity for Kobs to extend the lead by missing the target from close range, prompting a switch that handed Joseph Aredo kicking duties from there on.

With his first attempt, Aredo converted a penalty to stretch Kobs’ lead to five points (8-3). There was yet another opportunity for Kobs, playing with a numerical advantage following Allan Olango’s yellow card, to further stretch the lead but Aredo missed a penalty from close range.

Rhinos pounce

There was no backing down by Rhinos and when the chance came, a well-crafted move ended with Chris Sekonge finishing at the wing to level matters.

Kirabo’s successful conversion handed Rhinos a 10-8 lead and, with the clock ticking, Kobs were in trouble.

Kobs camped in the Rhinos territory thereafter and Aredo slotted in a penalty for a slim 11-10 lead. But that didn’t last as Kirabo replied with a penalty of his own to put Rhinos back in front 13-11.

To compound Kobs’ misery, Aredo’s late penalty fit the upright and drifted out. That was it. Rhinos were the team celebrating at full time as Kobs yet again suffered defeat on the opening day of the season.

“We squandered a couple of chances; we had the final kick to win us the game and decision making came in as well. These are things we need to talk about, we really can’t train such,” Mudoola revealed.

“Our target still remains the same, to be in the final of the championship and it’s not over. We are not out, it happened last season when we lost the first two games.” 

Kobs lost key players before the start of the season and that has greatly affected the depth, experience and quality of the squad.

Saul Kivumbi, Alhajji Manano, Robert Aziku, and Wilobo Mukili all joined Victoria University while the Blue Army as added Andrew Odhiambo, Martin Odong. Trevor Tusiime and Benjain Muwanguzi.

Uganda Rugby Championship

Results

Pirates 38-10 Walukuba

Hippos 30-24 Buffaloes

Kobs 11-13 Rhinos

Heathens 45-12 Warriors

Eagles 16-22 Victoria

Elgon Wolves 8-19 Mongers