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What are some of the typical Uganda Rugby Cranes campaign trends?
Uganda Cranes, the football national team, were in the driving seat towards sealing automatic qualification to the 2022 African Cup of Nations. Neighbours South Sudan, who they had beaten 1-0 in the first leg at home the previous week, stood in their way ahead of the return leg in Nairobi, Kenya.
Then the usual script rolled.
Uganda lost 1-0 to the Bright Stars and immediately, the calculators were pulled out. “What do we need to qualify? If we beat this team by 3 goals and the other team draw with the other one, then we shall make it”
That has been the typical trend of all campaigns for Ugandan football. And it got me thinking: What are some of the typical trends of campaigns for Uganda Rugby Cranes?
1 That one “if” moment: Those who have watched Ugandan rugby consistently over the years will tell you that there is always that one moment in a game that decides and seals our fate almost immediately. For example, “if Sebuliba had passed the ball in that last play against Germany” during our first attempt at qualifying for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
That “if” moment, and others, usually leaves fans with hands on their heads; some with fury and others wishing they could turn back the hands of time. And somehow, there is always that one moment for every campaign.
This week’s quiz question:
Who captained Uganda Men’s Sevens during the 2017 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Cup hosted at Legends Rugby Grounds in Kampala?
Answer is at the end of this newsletter.
2 The one-man-army syndrome: When the team hit that sweet spot, Uganda can play some really beautiful rugby, and there is that one player among them whose game has been simply outstanding. For example Philip Wokorach, Marvin Odongo, Ivan Magomu, Justin Kimono or most recently, Desire Ayera. But usually, when Uganda plays, we always need that one man to carry us over the finish line with his individual brilliance.
These lads, and others you can mention, have been inspirational and up to the task quite a number of times. But we tend to rely a lot on this individual brilliance to get the results we so desire. And when it hasn’t come from any of the players, the team has suffered.
3 Squad selection: When was the last time fans were happy with the team selection by the national team coaches? Even I can’t recall. Year in, year out, in the recent past, Ugandan rugby fans have always had reservations about squad selection and they have made their feelings known, especially when the results aren’t in our favour. This trend repeats itself not just for the tournament but also for individual games, with fans seemingly always dissatisfied with the technical bench’s choices.
For you:
Pius Ogena and Samiya Ayikoru received their awards for male and female rugby player of the year 2019 respectively at the Nile Special USPA Awards held on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.
Quiz answer: Eric Kasiita.
Congratulations Ayikoru and Ogena, well deserved. Also, allow me to appreciate the Uganda Sports Press Association for recognising the top performing sports personalities in the country.
Thanks for reading the Kawowo Rugby Switch this week. I look forward to having a chat with you inbox via ernest@kawowo.com
