The Platinum Credit Heathens successfully defended their Uganda Cup against the Rams. At the same time, Nile Rapids stunned the Avengers, climbing atop women’s rugby in Uganda and putting everyone else on notice.
What else did we learn?
1. Rapid Rise
At the start of the planning process for the Uganda Cup, URU did not have the Nile Rapids in their plans as part of the teams to complete.
By lady luck, the Swans were unable to compete and were replaced by the Nile Rapids. Like an unready child, they were walked past, losing 38-06. That would be the last time they would lose a game.
They have since gone on a winning spree culminating in the Uganda Cup win. A 61-15 rout of the Gulu Sprinters and an 81-00 thumping of the Kabale Berg Princesses.
In the semi-finals, they went toe-to-toe with big dogs Black Pearls, fell 26-14 at halftime, and came back to win it 27-26. While in the final, they fell behind 17-10 while still in the first half but turned on the heat to win 25-17. In the knockouts, they kept their opponents scoreless in the second halves.
Ladies and gentlemen, watch out for the Nile Rapids.
2. Tina Akello
It is impossible to talk about the heights the Nile Rapids scaled this past weekend without giving Tina Akello her flowers.
With the Avengers having more than an answer for whatever the Nile Rapids came up with, it was the Tina Akello in the 10 jersey for the latter who stood out to get her team over the gain line (The Avengers have a Christine – Tina – Akello in their ranks).
In the words of Erasmus Aredo, Tina Akello had on her shoulders all the rugby hopes from Mbale, through Walukuba and Jinja, via Bweyorere.
And boy, did she deliver! She opened the game’s scoring with a penalty. She answered Avenger’s try with one of her own, with a beautiful show-and-go.
While discipline was an issue for the Avengers, Tina always stepped up to convert the points and push the Rapids ahead.
Tina Akello put the game to bed when she attempted an outrageous drop goal and hit it before taking on another penalty outside the 22 bordering the touchline.
Tina Akello is destined for great things in the rugby world.
3. Omuceere Mu Nyama
While the country was being eased out of the lockdown, one song stood out – Ameno. “You want to Bamba, You wanna chill with the big boys” is a very sounding line from that song.
The Lifeguard Rams discovered the hard way what it means to come up against the Platinum Credit Heathens in a finale.
The teams sized each other up for about 15 minutes before Heathens started their riot, a run that saw them score eight tries, converted four and added three penalties.
The reason why “Omuceere mu nyama” makes sense is that your favourite hype person uses the line to get you ready for action and definitely, because the Heathens use it to let you know they are around and are going to do some damage momentarily.
Even when they look like they are undergoing a rebuild, the Heathens can go through the Uganda Cup unscathed, defend their crown – making it 13 in total – and add to their already indomitable status in Ugandan rugby.
Michael Wokorach, Lawrence Ssebuliba and Chris Lubanga don’t seem to be slowing down soon. Adding Tony Okello, Stephen Kalema, Vani Adebua, Malcolm Okello, Ivan Odoch and the like and having them perform right away is a formula that has kept the team at the top.
4. Kawowo Sports is Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice
Throughout the entirety of the Uganda Cup, none of the games had been broadcast live. This was so even when the URU had an agreement with NBS Sports as the exclusive rights owner for the broadcast of rugby in the country.
Last weekend, the cries of the many were heard, and at 1400HRS, “Producer Didi” and Ernest Akorebirungi of the famed “Lerest Updates” were reporting live from the Kings Park Arena in Bweyogerere.
The Tina Akello revolution was televised. The Platinum Credit Heathens bully game against the Rams was live.
More often than not, rugby fans here need help knowing the kinds of calls the referees make. Not last Saturday, though. The Kawowo Sports fixed up referee Umar Balikanda with a microphone, and everyone could hear him clearly speaking to the players and stamping his authority on the game, amazingly.
With the Premiership starting soon, we are definitely waiting for more of the same outstanding service from Kawowo Sports.
Courtesy Photos
