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Uganda vs Kenya: Rugby Cranes need more than ‘just’ a victory
Benon Kiiza (with ball) tries to find a way past Kenyan opponents in an earlier encounter. Kiiza and his Rugby Cranes teammates must utilise home advantage to stand a chance of denying Kenya another Elgon Cup victory. Photo by Eddie Chicco
Rugby Cranes start another quest for the elusive Elgon Cup with the first leg against Kenya at Kyadondo grounds this evening. Uganda have not won the annual event since 2006.
Coach Yayiro Kasasa’s team must be anxious as they seek a sizeable lead ahead of the return leg in Nairobi in seven days’ time. They have previously failed to preserve leads as big as 19 (2007) and 17 (2008).
They also fell short in clawing an eight-point deficit (2009). But like Kasasa has put it: “We cannot dwell on the past as I have had different players.” The visitors know what awaits them here. “The Ugandans are strong upfront and we will need to contain them, particularly in the opening 20 minutes,” Mike ‘Tank’ Otieno, the Kenya coach, said. The pack has two survivors from the side that won the Africa Cup in 2007 – captain Mathias Ochwo and hooker Alex Mubiru. Ochwo, a flank, will be complimented by Kenyan-born Scot Oluoch and eighth man Andrew Olweny on the back row.
Kampala punishment
The mobility of the front row comprising Brian Odong and Oscar Ochulu should put Uganda on the front foot from the start. Steven Ogwete, also Odong’s elder brother, starts on the second row with first choice jumper Romano Ogwal.
“We will, however, also not underrate their backline,” Otieno noted. Adding: “As you recall, they punished us in Kampala last year with their backs who guided them to victory in a game that we were leading.” Of the back three that punished Kenya in the 32-18 victory with late tries, only Justin Kimono starts today.
Neither Lawrence Wakabi nor Allan Musoke is on the team but fullback Benon Kiiza is more than an able deputy. These should feed off the enterprise of the halfback pairing of Anthony Kinene and Chris Lubanga.
Kinene will be the first kicker while the latter is back from a lengthy knee injury over the past two years. The 15 is completed by a first start for rising centre Oscar Kalyango to join Michael Wokorach.
Ogwal (knees), Olweny (knee), Ochwo (hamstring) and Wokorach (rib) have had to overcome injuries to face a side with eight uncapped players.
Notably, perennial campaigners Collins Injera, Innocent Simiyu and Daniel Kiptoo are not here as prop Joel Nganga leads Kenya. The men’s game is preceded by a similar women’s contest, dubbed the Migingo Cup, at 2pm with a debut for wing Matilda Tino.
