Uganda Rugby Cranes sevens coach Tolbert Onyango has named a 12-man squad that travels to South Africa on Wednesday night to feature in the Africa Olympic qualifiers due Saturday and Sunday at Barnard Stadium, Johannesburg.
Cranes leave tonight ahead of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday ©Kawowo Sports/AMINAH BABIRYE
Onyango, who coached Uganda in the Confederation of Africa 7s held in Mombasa in 2013, selected skipper Micheal Wokorach, talented Ivan Magomu, Lawrence Ssebuliba plus Phillip Wokorach.
Action form the Safari Sevens where Uganda finished Shield Runners Up ©Kawowo Sports/AMINAH BABIRYE
Micheal Echodu also made it to the team thanks to his impressive displays since the commonwealth games in Glasgow, Scotland last year. Paul Masendi, Solomon Okia, Pius Ogena, Eric Kasiita, Ramathan Govule, James Odongo and Kobs’ James Ijongat complete the squad.
Uganda is placed in Pool ‘B’ alongside Zimambwe, Nigeria and Zambia. Rivals Kenya are in Pool ‘A’ and will battle Senegal, Mauritius and Madagascar.
Uganda will face Zimbabwe in the group stages ©Kawowo Sports/AMINAH BABIRYE
After winning only once, against Burundi in the Safari Sevens in Kenya, Cranes are looking forward to representing Africa in Brazil just like at the 2014 Commonwealth games showpiece where they lost to Canada 32-00, crashing out at the Bowl semi final stage.
The overall winner of the tournament will qualify for the Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro in the summer of 2016.
The Squad
Wokorach Philip, Wokorach Michael (Captain), Solomon Okia, Ivan Magomu,Pius Ogena, Eric Kasiita, Ecodu Emmanuel, Paul Masendi, Ramathan Govule, James Ijongat, James Odongo, Lawrence Ssebuliba
Officials
Coach: Tolbert Onyango
Team Manager: Michael Wandera
Olympics Qualifiers Africa 7s Pools
Pool A: Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal,
Pool B: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Zambia
Pool C: Botswana, Namibia, Morocco, Tunisia
