- Nile Special Rugby Women’s League 2024 – Round Three Fixture
- Kyadondo Rugby Club (4 p.m.): Thunderbirds vs Black Pearls
Speaking on a Nnalubaale Sports Twitter Space on Wednesday night, Nile Rapids captain Tina Akello said, “The time for some women’s games has to be adjusted. It’s difficult to attract fans for the women’s games when they are played under the hot sun. When there are no other games, they should at least be played at 4 (p.m. local time).”
Women’s rugby matches in Uganda are usually played from noon and earlier in some cases. This is due to a shortage in rugby-ready facilities which forces a tight schedule that prioritises the men’s matches. On a clear sunny day, which Ugandan weather never runs short of, the noon time slot is one of the least desirable for both players and fans alike. Thus, women’s matches are usually played to a handful of fans, most of whom are fellow players (men and boys) waiting to play after them.
To adjust the kickoff times of some of the women’s matches is an appeal those passionate about women’s rugby in Uganda have consistently made to the powers that be. The “radical” ones, including myself, have fearlessly advocated for some women’s matches to be played after the men’s.
For example, the Uganda Cup final between Heathens and Rams was such an anti-climax after the absolute cinema Nile Rapids and Avengers had served in the early kickoff. One can only imagine the scenes at Kings Park that day had the fixture schedule been the other way round.
Now that players have started making their pleas and wishes known publicly, maybe the powers that be will listen.
It might be by sheer coincidence but Akello couldn’t have chosen a perfect time to voice her concerns. Because this Saturday, in Round Three of the Nile Special Rugby Women’s League, Thunderbirds will host Black Pearls at Kyadondo Rugby Club. The match will kick off at 4 p.m. local time.
I wish to share three reasons why you should watch this match; in addition to the fact that it will be played at Uganda’s most renowned rugby grounds in the familiar time slot.
First of all, accessing Kyadondo on Saturday afternoon will be free of charge. This is a major selling point for non-core rugby fans who would have otherwise been swayed away by a fee to watch the match. But core rugby fan or not, the usually UGX 10,000 entrance fee can either be saved or spent on one’s hospitality at the rugby club.
Secondly, Thunderbirds vs Black Pearls is a star-studded match. During the November tests last year (Elgon Cup in Kenya and two tests in Tunisia), the two clubs contributed six and three players respectively on the travelling squads. I can guarantee that you will not find such an assembly of national team players in any match this weekend for both men’s and women’s competitions.
Last but not least, this match pits two of the three still-unbeaten teams in the competition against each other early in the season. Black Pearls lead the standings with ten points from two matches while Thunderbirds are in third place with five points from one match. They are separated by She Wolves from Mbale who have taken the league by storm.
Although Black Pearls have a five-match winning streak against Thunderbirds running since 2019, this will be no walkover. None of the five matches, which I have personally watched, was a walk in the park for the victorious side. Currently, the two rivals are the only teams who have registered a bonus point – winning and/or losing – in the competition thus far. They are both in such fine form and there is even more to play for. Thunderbirds are the old lady of women’s rugby in Uganda while Black Pearls are the new kids on the block. It is a match where egos and bragging rights are on the line.
All said and done, please put women’s rugby on top of your priority list this weekend. But in case any of the above reasons is not good enough, nange ndi muntu, at least I tried.
Full Round Three Fixtures:
- The Graveyard, Makerere (12 p.m.): Ewes vs Panthers
- Mbale (3 p.m.): She-Wolves vs Avengers
- Kyadondo Rugby Club: Thunderbirds vs Avengers
