Trouble looms for Rugby Cranes amid Seguya illness

Robert Seugya lies in a hospital bed at the Uganda Cancer Institute, Mulago Hospital. He is in isolation with visitors asked to stay away. 
Doctors fear that interaction with well-wishers may bring infections. The rugby legend was diagnosed with acute leukemia this week.  Soggy’s fight for life amid multiple fundraising campaigns here and in Kenya has also stuttered Rugby Cranes’ plans for this year’s Rugby Africa Cup.

The former Rugby Cranes star is also the national team coach. The team was planning to convene this Sunday ahead of the July 10-18 tournament to be played here. 
“We have to regroup. The league had just ended and Soggy was doing the season plan,” Uganda Rugby Union (URU) chief executive officer Ramsey Olinga says. 

Besides Soggy, the only other coach assigned to the team is Brian Makalama as forwards tutor.  A provisional squad of 72 players was summoned yesterday.  Uganda is placed in pool C alongside Ghana and Algeria. There are four pools with the best two teams from each pool qualify for 2022 Rugby Africa Cup. Next year’s tournament will serve as the final round of the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifier. 

The eventual winner of the Rugby Africa Cup in August 2022 will qualify for 2023 Rugby World Cup in France as Africa One. 
The runner-up will enter the final qualification tournament for another chance at qualifying. None of this matters for now as one of Uganda’s greatest rugby players needs every hand to beat leukemia. 
Through Betway Kobs and Rugby Cranes winger Daudi Ssemwami, the rugby fraternity and the general public should contribute through 0775627996, 0702846736 and Safaricom +254743899980. 

2021 RUGBY AFRICA CUP

Pool A: Namibia, Madagascar, Ivory Coast
Pool B: Kenya, Zambia, Senegal 
Pool C: Uganda, Ghana, Algeria 
Pool D: Tunisia, Zimbabwe, winner from round 1 qualifiers 
NB: Round 1 qualifiers include Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Burundi 

[email protected]