Right out of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, rugby revellers were hungry and thirsty for a 5-course serving of the beautiful game the whole year.
As has been the norm; rugby is the gift that keeps giving. Instead, we were served with an emotional rollercoaster from January to December.
And just like Allan Toniks and OS sang all those years ago, we love the game all year round.
- AFRICA 7s CHAMPIONS
For the third time in the country’s history, Uganda was crowned African 7s Champions.
Uganda conquered all in their backyard and rose to the summit of 7s rugby on the continent. The two-day rugby festival was a slimy, wet and yet sumptuous serving.
What made the victory sweeter is Uganda met and floored cup favourites, the Shujaa (Kenya), with a squad full of HSBC regulars in Otieno Alvin, Nelson Oyoo and Bush Mwale.
Kyadondo was on fire. See, that’s funny, given the amount of water that Chairman local organising committee Philip Kiboijana had to squidgy fight with on the morning of Day 2.
The stands were packed at 7 am. The noise from the fans was deafening, but Ugandans love flair. So the drinks were flowing early.
The river Nile is very special with its never-ending supply. So the foodstuffs were in service very early. A full stomach. A wet throat. Uganda rugby 7s. Nothing could go wrong.
Day 2 was rainy so early, but that has never stopped the Kyadondo enjoyment program. Kiboijana and company advocates came through clutch with making the pitch ready for Ugandan flair.
Winning the 7s crown assured Uganda of places at the Commonwealth games and the Rugby 7s World Cup.
Did You Know – Adrian Kasito and Philip Wokorach are now triple Africa 7s Champions? Winners in 2016, 2017 and 2022.
- COMMONWEALTH AND RUGBY WORLD CUP GAMES
If the world is going into a Commonwealth and 7s rugby world cup year, it is good putting Uganda in your plans.
Timothy Kisiga was a menace at the Birmingham games. If you are in doubt, reach out to Samu Kerevi and the Australians, they will tell you not to mess with that Pirate.
The Black-Yellow-Red entourage was in full fluid flow. You know Uganda is causing chaos when the neighbours from the soup-deficient East are focusing on the Rugby Cranes more than their one-direction-zero-sauce team.
You need to pick a standout player from the Commonwealth and the Cape Town World Cup games.
Do you remember Kisiga’s chase? Desire “DJ Fufu” Ayera on the decks? Afande Aaron Ofoywroth with the salutes? Philip Wokorach’s goose-stepping feet? Kasito’s airtight defence? Okeny and the sit-down instructions? Michael Wokorach turning back the clock and playing with the exuberance of a 25-year-old?
- JINJA HIPPOS COME OF AGE
Oh, Soggy (RIP) must be proud! Almost a year after Robert Seguya succumbed to cancer, his project with the Jinja Hippos matured.
The Dam Waters-based team is no longer a team of maybe but is now an actual tournament winner.
ICYMI: Jinja Hippos are the reigning National 7s Champions.
While the rest of the country was struggling with form, the calm waters of Lake Victoria explain the consistency that the Jinja Hippos exhibited from the Wakiso 7s to the Buffaloes 7s.
Be reminded, it was no fluke. They were the only team to feature in all semi-finals throughout the 2022 National 7s series, save for the opening weekend at Kings Park.
Heathens dug deep to put them away in Entebbe and Arua. Then, they got their revenge at Rujumba and Tooro 7s.
Finally, they won the Kyabazinga 7s in their local backyard. It gets more interesting. Jinja Hippos are the only team to win one edition and walk away with the overall gong in the history of 7s in Uganda.
Heathens, KOBs and Pirates all had two winners’ medals across the calendar to show, but the national honours went to the Hippos in a testament to their consistent work.
Away from the National 7s, the Hippos had lads plucked from their ranks to represent the nation.
Boy, were they outstanding! Jacob Ochen had a fantastic first tour with the 15s team, impressing off the bench in France during the Rugby Africa Gold Cup knockouts.
His development saw him summoned by Coach Tolbert Onyango to the 7s squad for the Capetown and Dubai 7s.
Everyone remembers his bullish carries and putting Uganda over the gain-line. However, leaving out that SIT-DOWN kasementi to the USA Defender is malicious. Kasementi and Stools material!!!!!
Still, with the 7s, Dennis Etwau took a break from tormenting countrymen and lit up the world stage in Dubai with speed, defence and exceptional finishing.
- THE RISE OF JOAQUIM CHISANO
If we are ever compiling a list of marquee signings, Chisano’s move from Entebbe to Lugogo must be high on that list.
The no-fear and can-almost-do-it-all forward came to Heathens with a fire burning underneath, and it didn’t take long before he put the league on notice.
Almost everything nice about the Heathens in 2022 has the stamp of the tough-talking former Mongers forward Joaquim.
It takes a lot to silence the Pirates Strong brigade on Twitter, but as we have come to know, Chisano’s abilities know no boundaries.
For a while, the Heathens have had no business being competitive in the National 7s.
The nation watched as Chisano inspired the Yellow machine to two unbeaten weekends in Entebbe and Arua to climb to the top of the rankings until the penultimate round.
Unfortunately, you could see Heathens struggle in the Uganda Cup later stages when Chisano was out with an injury.
Only one question remains about Chisano. What is his relationship with the former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano? But before then, we shall order some Biryani and wait for another Saturday, aka Rugby day, for Chisano masterclasses.
- DOUBLE BLACK AARON OFOYWROTH
Owakabi!! Among the 23, as the rugby fans have come to be addressed, Jose Chameleone, in the Hannz Taqtic song, was singing about Aaron Ofoywroth.
What a year the lad had!! Almost everything Aaron touched was turning into gold. During the Africa 7s, Aaron always had that 2.5ft high jump he would do that meant he was about to put on a clinic.
At that tournament, he was simply unplayable. Everything gorgeous from Uganda had to go through him for approval and execution.
And was the execution beautiful!! Aaron ably extrapolated this form to the International calendar. Aaron ran through defenders and threw exquisite passes like a Priest at holy communion.
I remember Aaron saluting the fans that applauded Uganda at the Africa 7s and the contingents in Birmingham and Cape Town.
The lad has matured into a genuine international star. We see an international deal on the card for him. Twitter people who love candles – this is our time to shine.
- THE NAME LEKURU DESERVES MAXIMUM RESPECT
The men have had a pandemic called Wokorach. The holders of that name are stellar performers.
The women, in response, have acquired a headache of their own. It is a Lekuru disease with two variants thus far: Emily and Peace.
So when you assemble anything women’s rugby in Uganda, leave Lekuru X2 at your own peril.
Emily in Bweyogerere and Peace in Entebbe. The ladies had an outstanding international year in 2021, followed up with a commendable campaign in 2022.
They were ready to recover from the lockdowns on the local scene, and their games were always a spectacle.
Black Pearls Women’s Rugby club clinched the 2022 Uganda Rugby Union Women’s National Sevens title at Kyandondo Rugby Grounds on Saturday, 12 November 2022, after Emily’s Pearls defeated Peace’s Avengers 24-12.
Peace Lekuru was the tournament MVP, while Emily Lekuru was the top scorer. You now see what we are saying—a perfect pandemic for the women to have these trailblazers.
Peace’s Avengers closed the year with the Uganda Cup crown courtesy of a last-gasp match-winning penalty to win 18-16 and stun defending champions Thunderbirds.
A lot more happened in 2022, but this writer believes you have struggled to come to this point of the writing, so they shall stop here.
- NOTABLE MENTIONS:
- Ronald Wutimber winning best referee without being on the nominee shortlist.
- Impis and Pirates fans keeping the online conversation going.
- Heathens fans finally learning how to use Twitter.
- Rujumba winning a 7s title with Hippos and forgetting his crusade, according to Sama.
- The Fat Cats podcast being about Fat boy representation.
- Kyambogo vs BOKs (KOBs junior side) vs Uganda Rugby Union.
- Heathens getting a logo…..ish.
- The 23’s Twitter Space needs a new home.
- An achievement-less year for the KOBs.
- Munyani silencing his critics as 7s captain.
Courtesy photos
