The remaining four rugby teams in the land will be in action this weekend for the semifinals as we continue to search for the ultimate rugby championship winner.
The Heathens, KOBs, Pirates and Hippos were the top four sides in the regular season and all four have been together in the top four of the main championship/premiership since 2021.
KCB KOBs vs Platinum Credit Heathens
The KCB KOBs host the Platinum Credit Heathens at Legends in the first of two Lions Cup clashes in the semi-finals. When these two sides met in the regular season, Heathens were 25-13 away winners.
The KOBs will look to flip that script on the undefeated Heathens and use the additions of Sevens stars Ian Munyani, Adrian Kasito, and Pius Ogena to cause the upset.
The #BlueArmy VETERANS returned last weekend after almost a year on NT duties.
— KOBs Rugby Club UG (@KobsrugbyUg) May 10, 2024
Welcome Home @IanMunyani & @adriankasito 🥳🥳
We’re excited to see you join the charge! #PoetryInMotion #KCBKOBs #GutsGritGold #NileSpecialRugby #RaiseYourGame pic.twitter.com/tm4D47A3zS
Ian Munyani looks to have found a new love in the back row, like his mate Pius Ogena who made the preference of the back row over the midfield. The team has been energized by young guns like Kakula, Ahumuza, and most recently Rasul Abiriga and Luyirika Muwanguzi Benjamin.
The Heathens will cross Jinja road aiming to make it three away wins in a row this year, after the Uganda Cup semifinal and the regular season wins.
There has been much tinkering with the match-day squads of the Kyadondo side but Coach Athiyo Muhammad knows the addition of Aaron Ofoywroth into their backline boosts the team’s productivity and obviously improves their kicking capabilities, an area in which they’ve performed worst amongst all the top four teams.
Michael Wokorach has made a habit of dancing between the back row and midfield, putting the Heathens over the gain line whenever he’s called upon. He leads all Heathens scorers with 9 tries, tied with Joseph Oyet, and closely touted by Malcolm Okello and Michael Amollo on 6 tries.
Stanbic Pirates vs Jinja Hippos
After the nervy ending to their quarterfinal tie with the Rhinos, 2023 Champions Stanbic Pirates have thrust stalwarts Timothy Kisiga and Desire Ayera into the starting line up.
MVP Haruna Muhammad has shifted into the center alongside Jones Kamiza, resigning the fullback role to Timothy Kisiga. The Pirates were 19-14 winners over the Hippos during the regular season, handing Hippos their first of two regular-season losses.
The Hippos lost to Toyota Buffaloes in the second quarterfinal tie but advanced to the semifinals on aggregate score and will want to forget the hiccup so fast in order to keep their home record this season immaculate.
The addition of Jacob Ochen into the back row has given them extra bounce in the knockouts; his combination with David Wako and try-scoring machine Andrew Odhiambo gives their forwards a lot of power.
With Yasin Wasswa out with an injury, Elvis Opira and Bruno Kisule have taken on his kicking and full back duties respectively and will hope to kick and pin Pirates into retreating into defense mode for all of Saturday afternoon.
Courtesy Photos
