The Black Pirates have enjoyed an impressive run in the 2025 Uganda Cup. In the group stage, they amassed an astronomical 319 points scored from 4 games, bringing their average points per game to 79.75. No other team remaining in the competition has scored more, with only the Buffaloes coming close with 199 points scored.
To be fair to KOBs and Heathens, the numbers do not tell the whole story. A walkover for the Heathens against Elgon Wolves and 2 walkovers for the KOBs meant that both sides could only collect 20 points per game.
In the quarterfinals, the Pirates made light work of the Makerere Impis, emerging 68-20 victors. Off the pitch, Coach Marvin Odong attributes this success to the great support from the wider club: management, medical, and the fans.
About the on-pitch impressive performances, it’s the work ethic.
“I would put it down to the group’s work ethic and alignment. The boys are genuinely excited to play together and to win, week in, week out.
“That mindset has really driven our standards up in training, and there’s healthy competition for jerseys, with everyone clear on their role in how we want to play.
“It’s very much a collective effort, not just a run of form from 23 players on a given weekend.”
This great run form shall have to come to the fore once again this Saturday at Kings Park Arena, when they meet an old nemesis in KOBs.
Coach Odong is wary of the threat the KOBs pose, but he has a plan.
“Our focus is on imposing our own game, sticking to our systems, managing our set-pieces and the key moments better, staying disciplined under pressure and playing in the right areas. KOBs are a quality, well-coached side with a lot of experience, so ‘dispatching’ them is easier said than done.
“We are aware of the resources they have within their ranks, and respect the threats they bring at the set-piece, around the contact area, and out wide,” he remarks.
The Pirates have enjoyed success in the National 7s and National 15s leagues in the recent past, but the Uganda Cup has continued to elude them. Winning the Uganda Cup would make it a season double for the Pirates, and Coach Odong explains what this means for him and the club.
“It would be huge for the club to win the double, and specifically the Uganda Cup, which we haven’t won since 2017. It would be a reward for years of work from players, coaches, management, and the people behind the scenes who don’t always get the spotlight. On a personal level, it would be special, but I genuinely see it as a reflection of the group rather than an individual achievement,” he noted.
Coach Odong ends his message with a cautionary tale, noting, “That said, we’re very aware that we have to earn the right to be in contention for the double by winning this weekend, so our focus right now is fully on KOBs and nothing beyond that.”