The Black Pirates and Kabras Sugar have selected their trusted 23-player teams to battle for the revived cross-border Enterprise Cup.
The Pirates travelled with a 26-player squad from Kampala, while Kabras travelled with 25 players from Kakamega, Western Kenya. These Squads have now been trimmed to the required matchday 23 player teams to face off on Saturday at the RFUEA Grounds.
From the Pirates team, Pius Ojeabulu, Samuel Lubwama and Mubarak Wandera didn’t make the cut, while Kabras have left out Gabriel Adero and Adrian Kwhesa from their matchday team.
Surprisingly, Pirates have named Allan Karuhanga to start his first Enterprise Cup fixture, making a tournament debut, while Kabras have moved captain fantastic George Nyambua to the second row.
The Pirates have received a big boost with the full return of William Nkore to start at flyhalf, having been eased back into the squad after injury. Timothy Kisiga, who has been providing cover at 10, now returns to his preferred full back position, with Haruna Muhammad on the bench to see out the game at 15.
For Kabras, Walter Okoth returns to inside center after a short stint at flyhalf in the Kenya Cup final against KCB Rugby. He is paired with fellow Simba, Bryceson Adaka, while the exciting Eric Cantona returns to his fullback position after running out at wing in the last Kabras outing.
The Pack
The Pirates forwards pack, especially the front row, will have to put in a shift of a lifetime. Alema Ruhweza, Nathan Bwambale and Ivan Kabagambe are seasoned campaigners with bags of experience. Whereas their replacements, Sunday Jaguar, Ariho Muhumuza and Umar Duff Bakulumpagi, are good players, they may be a little out of their depth for the occasion.
Kabras boasts of 5 Kenya Simbas and 1 Rugby Crane in their starting and finishing front row, a luxury of international experience the Ugandans do not possess. However, having this artillery at one’s disposal doesn’t always directly translate to game day execution, but the Pirates shouldn’t count on that.
Black Pirates Starting XV
- 1. Alema Ruhweza
- 2. Nathan Bwambale
- 3. Ivan Kabagambe
- 4. Eliphaz Emong
- 5. Frank Kidega
- 6. Moses Zziwa
- 7. Sydney Gongodyo
- 8. Alex Aturinda
- 9. Conrad Wanyama
- 10. William Nkore
- 11. Allan Karuhanga
- 12. Isaac Massanganzira
- 13. Davis Shimwa
- 14. Jeremiah Okello
- 15. Timothy Kisiga
Subs: Sunday Jaguar, Ariho Muhumuza, Umar Duff, Humphrey Tashobya, John Paul Atim, Stephen Alul, Eric Mulamula, Haruna Muhammad.
Kabras Sugar Starting XV
- 1. Edward Mwaura
- 2. Eugine Sifuna
- 3. Ephraim Oduor
- 4. Hillary Odhiambo
- 5. George Nyambua
- 6. Collins Indeche
- 7. Patrick Lumumba
- 8. Jeans on Misoga
- 9. Roy Maruti
- 10. Ntabeni Dukisa
- 11. Derrick Ashiundu
- 12. Walter Okoth
- 13. Bryceson Adaka
- 14. Mathias Osimbo
- 15. Eric Cantona
Subs: Teddy Akala, Emmanuel Othieno, Asuman Mugerwa, Shem Joseph, Alfred Orege, Mike Lukusi, Jackson Sketta, Griffin Chao.