By 6:30 pm on Saturday, we had all confirmed the teams that will be sweating it out in the semifinals of the newly designed rugby championship – KOBs will play Heathens and the Hippos will play the Pirates.
So, what did we learn?
1. Fear The Horn
The Rhinos might not have made it into the last four but they sure did make a good account of their expeditions in the quarterfinals. Uganda might have around 22 Rhinos at the government-gazetted Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, but there’s a crash of about 30-odd Rhinos inhabiting Kampala Rugby Club and they are quite the unit.
During the regular season, the Rhinos had a rough 5-game hostile patch and many might have counted them out but they backed themselves and still made the playoffs.
Over two legs, they were in it against the defending Champions, Stanbic Black Pirates, and that can be seen by the mere 6-points difference in the total aggregate. Taking the game to Pirates away like they did, I doubt we have seen anything like that in recent memory.
You could argue that had Ivan Kirabo been present for the first leg, we would be writing a different epitaph. Backing young and determined lads like Moses Ali is something they should keep at, seeing as it is working. Lest we forget, they have the best graphics designer in the land.
2. Haruna’s Redemption Song
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.” When the going seemed tough, Haruna Muhammad referenced the scripture as taught by the Godfather of Reggae, Bob Marley, in the Pirates’ adopted anthem to get the job done.
On a good day, Haruna will sell dummies to the players on pitch and cameras combined, do beautiful things, glide past defenders and score amazing tries. On another day, he will frustrate you with his knee-jerk reactions and temperament. Pirates faithful will be glad it was the former.
When the resident wizards were still referencing their notes and nothing was happening, when the fans seemed lost and silent at sea, up stepped Haruna Muhammad with his best half of rugby since his injury.
To his name, he notched a try assist, two tries and three line breaks and seven defenders beaten; a feat solid enough to bring Pirates out of danger and into the semifinals.
3. Coach Tolbert’s Influence
When news of the sevens program allowing some players game time with their clubs dropped, it wasn’t widely expected for their influence to be immediate.
The left wing for the Pirates just wasn’t working. Speedster Atukunda Arnold will want to quickly forget those 40 minutes. The Rhinos identified him as a weakness and explored this.
He was ejected at the halfway point, and replaced by Timothy Kisiga, and this gave Haruna Muhammad the license to roam – we know how that ended.
The Pirates’ forwards were not getting over the gain-line until Desire Ayera jumped on. All these changes were happening by decree of stand-in gaffer, Isaac Kityo Massanganzira, in the absence of Coach Marvin Odongo. He masterminded one of the biggest comebacks in Uganda rugby history.
For the first in a long time, the KCB KOBs got some serious production from their finishing unit. Ian Munyani has followed his predecessor Michael Wokorach and has switched from center to the back row.
His injection into the game galvanized the pack, and the injection of Adrian Kasito added attacking dynamics to the backs, constantly visiting his chemistry with James Ijongat, Al Hajj Manano, and Joseph Aredo to hurt the Mongers.
4. Welcome back, Jacob Ochen
The other three teams might have been handed jokers by Coach Tolbert, but the Hippos will be glad to have the angry bird, Jacob Kodele Ochen, turning out for the Dam Waters outfit once again.
Ochen has been back for two games and he has scored a try in each of these games. The combination of Jacob Ochen and Andrew Odhiambo must have all Hippos faithful salivating at the prospect of the damage these two try magnates and solid bruisers can cause in the semifinals against the rampant Pirates.
5. Just Trust Kawowo Sports
While giving out 2023 awards, we recognized Kawowo for their dedication to broadcasting rugby, even when URU “allegedly” had an ironclad beneficial broadcast deal with another entity.
Over time, we (URU inclusive) have come to accept that no entity understands the game of broadcasting like Kawowo Sports. The numbers of the broadcast of the Pirates-Rhinos QF skyrocketed ten minutes in because the country was following ardently. They knew it would be hotly contested and they set up.
Lest we forget, highlights from all Quarterfinal games have been made available and we don’t have to download a specific app to access them. That’s a W!!!!
Courtesy Photos
