Matchday three of the Nile Special Rugby Premier League served some mouthwatering clashes in Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja.
Rams and Rhinos played out to a three-all stalemate at Makerere, Buffaloes stamped their authority over Walukuba at Kyadondo, Pirates squeezed past Hippos in Jinja, Impis finally overcame Mongers in Entebbe, and an Aaron Ofoyrwoth forty-metre drop goal against Kobs kept Heathens’ title hopes alive.
However, conversations between peers, rugby folk online and reports in the press were far from that. Rather, the space was littered with tales of escapades between players and their fans, and uproar over decisions match officials made or should have made. Most of it was misdirected, which left little to no room for solutions to be found and lessons learnt.
It is not the first time URU has experienced such an episode, and it will not be the last. But it cannot, and should not, be the same old song.
Rugby, as an entertainment and commercial product, has enjoyed positive publicity despite the National Council of Sports and her federations washing their dirty linen in mainstream media for months.
Matchday four is here and rugby has yet another opportunity to shine. The show must go on but it cannot carry with it the ghosts from matchdays past.
Matchday Four Fixtures:
- 3 p.m.: Impis vs Rams – Makerere Rugby Grounds.
- 4 p.m.: Walukuba Barbarians vs Plascon Mongers – Walukuba, Jinja.
- 4 p.m.: Stanbic Black Pirates vs Toyota Buffaloes – Kings Park, Bweyogerere.
- 4 p.m.: Kobs vs Jinja Hippos – Legends Rugby Grounds.
- 4 p.m.: Platinum Credit Heathens vs Rhinos – Kyadondo Rugby Club.
With fewer high-profile matches on the card for this weekend, it is important for URU to turn the corner and return to being the darling and envy of all sports fans alike.