When the Black Pirates take to the pitch at exactly on Saturday, it shall be exactly 8 years, 1 month and 2 days since they last won the Uganda Cup. As one of Uganda’s most successful rugby sides, this is a high-priority game that they must win, not only to take home a double this season but also to continue the great legacy that the club is building.
Since the historic Uganda Cup win in the 2017-18 season, the Sea Robbers have only managed one more Uganda Cup final appearance, which they lost to the Heathens (their opponents this year) in 2022.
The Pirates are currently playing the rugby of their life, pulling off high-scoring games and coming out on top in the close encounter against old rivals, the KOBs. This impressive run of games is only part of a bigger project in progress, as described by Captain Isaac Massa.
“Uganda Cup has generally been a great tournament with the team building on some things we didn’t do so well in the league, like set pieces. We have also gotten some game time for the young lads, and we have gelled well,” Massa noted.
The center, who is fondly known as the ‘minister of defence’, was part of that treble-winning Pirates side, along with current teammates like William Nkore, Nathan Bwambale and Desire Ayera. This bunch of players know what it means to win, and this trophy is a priority for them.
“Uganda Cup has been evading us as a team since the 2017-18 season, so it’s something we are looking at adding to our trophy cabinet. We are working towards that,” said Massa.
For Massa, the winning strategy on Saturday is simple. “We just have to get into the game and settle in early enough. Knowing the high stakes of a final, we definitely have to reduce our mistakes and capitalise on all the chances we get,” noted Massa, alluding to the lapse in concentration that saw the Pirates go 8 points behind in the first half of the semifinal against KOBs.
The final is going to be played at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, a neutral venue for both sides. Massa has urged all the fans to show up in droves as they have done in the past, saying, “You [fans] are the reason why we show up on the pitch every day, so come and cheer the boys and enjoy good rugby.”