Heathens stand firm as Sharks stir the waters

Rugby is back! After 222 days of waiting, local fans can once again enjoy their cold drinks while watching the adrenaline-fueled action of the Nile Special Rugby Championship.

So much water has passed under the bridge since Heathens overwhelmed their opponents with the precision and force of a battering earthmover to win an unprecedented treble.

During that period, Makerere Impis and Rams suffered relegation after faltering in the playoffs to pave way for Elgon Wolves and Victoria Sharks. Both newcomers will be making their debut today with Wolves hosting Mongers in Mbale while the freshers make a short trip to Kitante to face Eagles.

Sharks swimming deep

Although both sides are debuting, all eyes this season will be on Victoria Sharks, a team owned by Victoria University that has made waves by investing heavily in their squads.

Sharks went through the Central Region unscratched before thumping all the regional winners in the playoffs. Ordinarily, you would expect the team under coach Ivan Makmot to go for some simple panel-beating and refining of their squad but no! Instead, they went for a spending spree in the deep waters as they dangled University admissions to their worms. for context, of the 84 transfers that the Uganda Rugby Union confirmed this week, Sharks accounted for 38.

They include seven from Heathens, eight from Kobs, two each from Pirates and Hippos and two from Kisumu RFC and Kenya Harlequins in Kenya.

The side has chosen Kyadondo as their home ground adding another layer of rivalry with Heathens. The Sharks have already shown glimpses of their potential after losing narrowly 21-19 to Heathens in a trial game before reaching their full strength in squad and their vice-chancellor isn't mincing his words about their objectives. 

“We do not rely on hope or leave anything to chance,” Prof. Muganga bragged on his X.

“Everything we do is intentional and purposeful. As we gear up for our first game of the Championship against Eagles, simply saying we will clip their wings does not reflect our ambition. We are going to swallow them,” he roared.

Champions unmoved

While the Sharks make noise by splashing and thrashing the waters, defending champions Heathens remain confident. They know these waters better than anyone else.

They have retained the cog of their treble-winning squad save for utility back Timothy Mugisha who joined Chilean side Old Gabs on loan after welcoming a baby with his partner in the South American nation.

“Indeed we have the crown and everyone will be chasing us for it but we don’t only win but have also mastered how to retain it,” their coach Mohammed Athiyo told Saturday Sports.

Athiyo’s words are not mere threats, no other team besides Heathens has managed to defend their title since 2009. Under Athiyo, the 17-time champions have won five titles and defended twice. They start their campaign with Warriors at home buoyed by a successful preseason where they beat Hippos and Kobs to the inaugural Masters Invitational Tournament.

Shs450m Pirates’ anchor

Pirates has emerged as Heathens main challenger in the last six seasons by winning two titles. Their season will kick off with mixed fortunes as their reliable fly-half Ivan Magomu is sidelined, serving a ban until at least match day six when the Sea-Robbers host Kobs. However, the arrival of forward Eliphaz Emong from Hippos should boost the side that has kept their core team intact.

On Wednesday, they received a shot in the arm as telecommunication provider Roke Telekom pumped in a sponsorship package valued at Shs450m.

Revival mission

Kobs, the second-most successful team in the championship is seeking redemption. Last season saw their fortunes decline as Jinja Hippos broke the holy trinity to disrupt the status quo. Their only silverware came from the Mbarara circuit of the Nile Special National Sevens! They finished fourth in the championship, the Uganda Cup and the overall National Sevens rankings.

Additionally, there's a looming uncertainty over the future of their historic home ground at Legends.  URU has also not made matters any easier for them by awarding only four home matches out of 11. 

Ahead of the season, the Masters Tournament to which they're also founding members, gave them an early wake up call.  They finished behind Heathens and Hippos in the six-team preseason tournament, a dismal performance that seems to have forced the hands of the club executives who've slammed the door on coach Victor Wadia and his assistant Davies Kyewalabye and rang some changes in their coaching structure.

“We as KCB-Kobs have gone back to the drawing board having held a drought of trophies from 2019,” their club chairman Dr. STONE Luggya stated during their annual general meeting at Kati Kati Restaurant in Kampala last week during the unveiling of club legend Timothy Mudoola as head coach and their former player Keith Sseruyange as his deputy.

Lugya added: “This time we have done our homework and the coming league should be ours for the taking. With new leadership, we aim to dominate both games and the scoreboards this season.”

Mudoola is tasked with rebuilding the team after a massive player exodus. Among the players who left include Saul Kivumbi, Alhaji Manano and coach-player Kyewalabye. But in last season’s top try scorer Andrew Odhiambo who crossed from Hippos, he has a good starting point as they prepare to open their season against Rhinos at Legends today.

Wading Hippos

Last season was a breakthrough for the Jinja Hippos, finishing second in the regular season, narrowly losing to Pirates in the semifinals, and producing the league’s top try scorer. However, a mass exodus of players has shaken their fans. However, the club can pride in their age-grade programme that has become their conveyor belt of talent. Majority of the players who were fringe or struggling with injuries last season have sought solace at the rapidly rising Kakira Simbas in the rural side of Jinja.

However, the exits of Jacob Ocen, Emong and Odhiambo has sent shivers into their fans spines. While Emong crossed over from Kabras Sugar in Kenya and did not play a big part, Odhiambo has been their most-outstanding player since arriving two years ago. However, their preseason preparations exposed their depth with Yassin Waiswa and Owen Mugogo taking turns to flaunt their kicking styles, their strength for the last four seasons. The addition of Kenya Harlequin winger Tony Khadambi and the rapid rising talented duo of Wacky Rajab and Terry Okore from Njeru Hurricanes should add the right ingredients to coach Edmond Quaresma’s recipe.

Battle of the rest

Other teams to watch out include Walukuba Barbarians whose home near the landing site of Masese is slowly becoming an abattoir for many. Walukuba played the quarterfinals last season and their ascendancy in the sevens has given them reason to believe.
Buffaloes is another team that should not be taken lightly after pushing the big boys to the edge last season. Elgon Wolves returned rugby to Mbale and will be playing some of their big fixtures starting with next week’s encounter against Pirates in Tororo as they woo support the rugby-mad Kenyan borders.

The top eight teams at the end of the one-leg regular season round-robin will advance to the championship playoffs and start at the quarterfinals. The bottom four will have a second chance to battle in the relegation where two will be relegated to free up space.

NILE SPECIAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Today’s fixtures

Men – 4pm

Elgon Wolves vs. Mongers - Mbale

Pirates vs. Walukuba - Bweyogerere

Hippos vs. Buffaloes - Jinja

KOBs vs. Rhinos - Legends

Heathens vs. Warriors - Kyadondo

Eagles vs. Victoria - Kitante

Women fixtures – 2pm

Panthers vs. Nile Rapids - Legends

Black Pearls vs. Ewes - Bweyogerere

Thunderbirds vs. Avengers - Kyadondo

Key fixtures for top four

Feb 1: Pirates vs. Heathens

February 15: Kobs vs. Pirates

February 15: Hippos vs. Heathens

March 1: Pirates vs. Hippos

March 15: Heathens vs. Kobs

March 22: Hippos vs. Kobs