It was the highest-billed match of the weekend. Thunderbirds vs Black Pearls has consistently ranked amongst the top five must-watch matches in Uganda, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kobs vs Heathens in the Lions Cup, Heathens vs Black Pirates, Black Pirates vs Kobs, and Impis vs Rams in the Makerere Derby. One can argue that this fixture is a more personal affair than the aforementioned clashes.
However, Saturday’s first-round tie in the Central Region Women’s XVs championship did not live up to its billing. Both teams’ lineouts were poor and there was no contest in the scrummages as the hosts steamrolled their visitors.
At the end of a lukewarm eighty minutes of rugby, Black Pearls were victorious by 17-15 to stay unbeaten and leapfrog Thunderbirds into first place on the table.
This is what I saw and heard sitting on a high bar stool upstairs at the Kyadondo Rugby Clubhouse in a space that was reserved for the VIP guests but was occupied mainly by those of us who had shown up earlier in the day.
To start with, perhaps unrelated to rugby, I sat next to Coach Sky with whom we noticed that traffic on the Jinja Road highway on the North end of the pitch was blocked for some moments to allow President Museveni’s military convoy of around thirty trucks and land cruisers to go through without inconvenience. “Where could Mzee be going at this time?” we asked ourselves.
Before the early kickoff, at around 1 p.m. local time, there were only a handful of fans; many of whom were either players or fans waiting for the later men’s match between Buffaloes and Kobs to kick off. Some people, including the stadium announcers, called Thunderbirds vs Black Pearls the “warmup to the 4pm fixture” which, I must admit, left a sour taste in my mouth.
For every two players I randomly picked in the match blown by Umar Balikkanda, there was at least one current or former Lady Rugby Cranes international. From the likes of Winnie Atyang and Charlotte Mudoola who have the most caps since 2005 to Sarah Nakafeero and Norah Veronica Nabasirye who made their debuts last year. I also watched players who I think will represent Uganda in the future; player of the match Bushira Namutebi (Black Pearls inside center) who passes flawlessly on both hands and Sandra Amoli Lona (Thunderbirds fullback) who showed potential on counterattack.
First half passed without much to report home about apart from typical tries by winger Emilly Lekuru (rounding her opposite number to score under the poles) and hooker Yvonne Najjuma (forcing her way over the try line using a pick-and-drive).
Both teams were too eager to get the second half started that they took their positions for the restart for about seven minutes before referee Balikkanda walked onto the pitch to end their impatient wait.
Irene Nzige was in the building, wearing the Buffaloes home replica kit. She cheered her fellow Thunderbirds when the action came close to the South end. She also gave those of us near her some hillarious one-liners (aimed at Black Pearls of course) to laugh about as the game progressed.
Lekuru completed her hat-trick of tries I have seen her score time and time again but somehow the defence have not yet figured out how to stop her from finding the space on the outside.
Mary Kyoita spotted a bold hairstyle inspired by Maleficent for the match. She was bold in how she played too; coming off the bench to kick a penalty from just shy of forty metres despite her forwards’ plans to tap and go.
Speaking of kicking amidst protests from one’s teammates, coach-player Helen Koyokoyo Buteme kicked A LOT during the match. But to save the players from an extended lecture on why the coach is always right, I will not mention any names of the players who either raised their arms, dropped their shoulders, and shook their heads or showed all those displays of disapproval but then immediately urged themselves to proceed with the match without complaints every time Buteme paused and put the ball to boot.
When the final whistle was blown, while Thunderbirds were crestfallen and Black Pearls elated, both teams were clearly relieved that they could finally find some shade away from the relentless heat.
Overall, it was not the most entertaining match I have watched, even between these two eternal rivals. But when there is a championship on the line, entertaining is not what they set out to do, is it?
