Uganda Rugby Cranes sevens coach Herbert Wafula has blamed the team’s disappointing run in the recently concluded Safari sevens tournament on insufficient preparations that had the side settle for a few drills a couple of days into the showpiece.
Wafula says the team “rushed” to get down to the turf after realizing it was too late, a decision that cost them the whole tournament. He described his feeling after Uganda managed only one win in Nairobi as “terrible”.
“It was a terrible feeling to win only one game,” he told Kawowo Sports. “But then with the way the team prepared, it was also not so surprising. We took our eyes off the preps for a long time and tried to rush in all at once expecting some miracle.”
Uganda opened with a 24-10 loss to Zimbabwe Cheetahs and the trend did not get any better. Wafula’s charges went on to lose to Samurai and Kenya Morans 33-00 and 34-00.
Cranes were on the edge of glory at one moment, but their flickering light was painfully blown out by Zambia and Brazil. Wafula dubbed these the most indelible matches of the tournament.
“The loses to Zambia and Brazil were too painful to the whole team since we allowed them back in the games. We learnt, we move on,” the new Rhinos head coach added.
The Uganda Rugby Cranes sevens team finished Shield cup runners-up following their loss to 14-10 loss to Zambia as Samurai clinched the title off a 20-19 win over Shujaa in the final played at the Safaricom stadium.
