Worrying signs as famed rugby stars fail to shine

National coach Peter Magona will hope for more from these and the rest during the Bamburi Rugby Super Series next month before the Elgon and Africa Cups.

Props
Kobs’ Fred Mudoola, a prop in his heyday, thinks you can gamble on any position except the front row. If any two players were outstanding this season, it’s got to be Robert Kafero and Asuman Mugerwa.

The latter’s rise is all the most impressive. Mugerwa has become a vital cog in Heathens’ plans. This prop is an embodiment of natural body strength.

His try in the 24-7 victory over Kobs showed his sheer strength. Brian Tabaruka, his club coach, rates him as one of the very best ball carriers but needs to start games better and improve his decision making.

Tight-head Kafero shows how far Buffaloes have come. Injuries to Brian Odong (Kobs) and Martial Tchumakam (Rhino) have kept out while Ronald Adigasi (Mongers) hasn’t played all the games.

Hooker
Rugby doesn’t have the culture of retiring jerseys. If it did, Heathens would start with one of their skipper Alex Mubiru. He remains the most consistent hooker in Uganda.
Following a ban, Mubiru has had a fantastic season – as expected. No other hooker has the poise and accuracy of Mubiru yet. Please pass on the skills soon.

Locks
Heathens have lots of stars that Grace Lubega might never get recognized for his contributions. The lock is a permanent fixture on the second row and a consistent performer. Again, a Buffaloes’ player gets the other nod in the tight five – Ezekiel Ochol seems to gets stronger as the minutes pile up.

Flankers
Scot Oluoch is probably an immovable object for Heathens and it was quite a coup for Uganda to prize him away from his home country – Kenya. As good a ball carrier as any, it takes two to put the giant down. It’s his two tries in the semifinals that got Heathens past Pirates 12-3 in the semifinals.

Here, Oluoch is joined by Timothy Mudoola who seems to have put all his injuries of the past two years behind him. Previously a winger then centre, Mudoola is now irresistible as an open side flanker.

Eighth man
We seem to never get enough of Robert Seguya – arguably the greatest rugger Uganda will ever see. When will ‘Mzee’ stop? “I want to see Uganda play in the World Cup,” Seguya responds.
Too small to be your ultimate eighth man but Seguya has been absolutely brilliant there on a journey that started at his usual position as blindside flanker to fly-half before settling behind the scrum.

Seguya was exceptional when they beat Kobs (twice) and Pirates on successive weekends and his young regime surely learns a lot from his passion and experience.

Scrumhalf
Pirates have huffed and puffed as a team all season until losing to Heathens in the semifinals despite the brilliance of halfback Davis Kyewalabye.

He is probably the best up-tempo scrumhalf. Kyewalabye recycles the ball quickly – a little too quickly at times when his forwards need a breather or patience is required.

Fly-half
Uganda’s number 10 jersey remains up for grabs. Only Heathens’ Chris Lubanga has been consistently selected as fly-half for his club – Heathens.
Flamboyance is not something he has and his defence remains suspect but Lubanga keeps it simple and hardly commits mistakes.

Centres
The best combination in midfield has got to be Buffaloes’ Alfred Bijik and Kobs’ Oscar Kalyango – the best line breaker and the best tackler in the backline respectively.

Watching Bijik slice defences open is like attending the annual Beethoven Music Festival. You are sure it will happen. He is the playmaker upon which Buffaloes build their attacking play.
Years spent on the wing slowed the development of Kalyango before he found himself at second centre for Kobs and could soon knock out Michael Wokorach (Heathens) as a starter for Rugby Cranes.
Kalyango’s tackling is a hallmark of why every coach would choose him. He needs to find balance between defence and attack.

Wingers
When Bijik evades defenders and leads support, Philip Pariyo arrives in a flash. The wing is now a reliable scorer of tries and also possesses an accurate boot.

Conceding penalties has been fatal when Pariyo is on the pitch. Coach Andrew Owor has got to improve on his tackling which remains a weakness.

Justin Kimono knows it’s easy to get through a first season. Everyone has a breakthrough but not all keep that level but Kimono has.
He has been the difference between an average and good Kobs. Despite all his speed, Kimono continues to struggle to score against Heathens as he is a marked man. An ankle injury derailed him too.

Fullback
Talk of x-factor and Philip Wokorach has got it. The youngster, voted best upcoming player at the last Uganda Rugby Union (URU) awards, scores for fun to keep Benon Kiiza on the bench.

And it’s the biggest games where he created a periphery. Wokorach bagged 19 points in Heathens’ 24-16 victory over Pirates and bagged a sumptuous try to defeat Kobs 24-7.

He could pass for ballet dancer as he has got a quite a side-step on him. Sadly, Wokorach broke his leg in the 12-3 semifinal win against Pirates. Quick recovery, you gem.

Substitutes: Ronald Adigasi (Sadolin Mongers), Arthur Ngolobe (Buffaloes), Denis Mugambe (Heathens), Charles Uhuru (Buffaloes), Marvin Odongo (Pirates), Faisal Gamma (Heathens), Andrew Barasa (Kobs), James Musiitwa (Rhino).

Most Valuable Player: It’s hard to ignore Wokorach as a match winner. However, Oluoch pips him to the Most Valuable Player award as he hasn’t had a bad game.

The Kenyan-born loose forward is expected to make things happen and Oluoch never disappoints. He creates a mismatch as teams must commit two tacklers most of the time.

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