Coach Onyango, on Tuesday morning, named a full-strength squad for the second instalment of the Challenger Series, scheduled for 8th-10th March 2024 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Three names that were missing from Dubai in January have joined the fray to reinforce Uganda’s charge. Norbert Okeny, who sustained an injury late in 2023, makes his return as have Philip Wokorach and Timothy Mugisha. They replace rising sensation Roy Kizito, William Nkore and Davis Shimwa.
Aaron Ofoywroth is fully healed after he ended his Dubai exploits on crutches. The news comes very welcome to the Ugandan faithful who will expect to have a more robust attack, something different from what went down in Dubai.
The rugby cranes had a forgettable Dubai Challenger campaign, finishing 9th out of 12 teams in Dubai. Ninth is the lowest Uganda have finished at the Challenger Series – doing the same in 2020 in Montevideo. That year, the Cranes beat Paraguay 56-07 in the 9th placement quarterfinal and beat Papua New Guinea 22-19 in the 9th place Semi before beating Zimbabwe 26-24 in the 9th Place final.
Uganda were drawn in Pool C for the 2024 Montevideo Challenger edition, coming against a familiar foe in Germany, Papua New Guinea and hosts Uruguay.
The 2024 edition of the Challenger competition kicked off with combined events at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on 12-14 January and is to be followed by events at Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 8-10 March before standalone women’s and men’s events at Henryk Reyman’s Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland and Dantestadion in Munich, Germany respectively on 18-19 May.
Uganda Men’s Squad For 7s Challenger Series, Montevideo
- Adrian Kasito
- Norbert Okenyi
- Aaron Ofoyirwoth
- Isaac Massa
- Phillip Wokorach
- Desire Ayera
- Ian Munyani
- Alex Aturinda
- Pius Ogena
- Timothy Mugisha
- Denis Etwau
- Timothy Kisiga
