What a weekend of rugby Kyadondo served up last weekend!
The Heathens hosted the fifth circuit on the 2023 National 7s calendar, dubbed “Kyadondo Is Home”, and went the full distance to win it and become only the first host this year to win their home circuit.
After a two-week hiatus, rugby revellers thronged the swamp in Lugogo to catch a glimpse of what’s left of their finest stars in action.
The Good
The Avengers, last weekend, drank from a different serving of Nick Fury to upset the table leaders Black Pearls and claim Kyadondo 7s for themselves.
It might have taken a while, but someone has actually put the Pearls on notice that maybe the women’s title is not wrapped up after all.
The Avengers are now on 99 points, just three behind the Pearls (on 102 points), with Tororo and Walukuba Sevens to come.
Fazirah Namukwaya was again on her menacing best to ensure that the Entebbe side remained competitive and up to the task, and it’s little wonder she defended her MVP gong.
After the nightmares from Tooro 7s, the Platnum Credit Heathens are again circuit winners, becoming the first hosts to win a home circuit this year.
The Heathens were unlucky in their group stage games in Tooro 7s, abysmally dropping into the challenge cup and finishing 9th.
These blushes were erased, and the yellow machine showed up to claim glory at home.
Lawrence Ssebuliba! What an athlete! One of the reasons he may not have been voted MVP at Kyadondo was probably the union’s desire to have new faces dominating the series.
This doesn’t take anything away from Mr Jones Kamiza.
Many tried to go toe-to-toe with Lawrence, but as Conrad Mukwaya, Timothy Kisiga and Simon Makumbi can tell you, Ssebuliba is a bona fide star.
Lawrence Ssebuliba
The Organising committee
The local organising committee have my gratitude for last weekend. What a tournament! The level of organisation, time management, and zone designation was a sight to behold.
You want to read about the beautiful collaboration between Mobicast and Kyadondo rugby club to bring us the digital scoreboard.
Now that was a masterstroke. Everyone was left in awe. And the stories under the desk tell us that the project is only 20% done. Alright, Kyadondo, we see you!
To talk about Kyadondo and not say something about the turf over the weekend would be a disservice. The rainmakers earned their money. The grounds were looking pristine.
Tolbert’s Axe
The national rugby 7s team is a darling for all of us. But, whenever Thanos (read: Tolbert) snaps (read: summons his team) – there is bound to be some suffering.
Many teams did not stay the same when the axe was wielded this year. KOBs, already without the services of Adrian Kasito and Ian Munyani, further lost Pius Ogena, Mark Osuna, Faraji Odugo, Karim Arinaitwe and Byron Oketayot.
Captain Al Hajj Manano and the indefatigable Joseph Aredo were literally left naked in the starting lineup.
Pirates lost Aturinda, Nkore, Wandera and Isaac Massa. Heathens lost Ofoywroth and Okeny.
Buffaloes lost Tukei, Rhinos lost Shimwa and Olango, and Hippos lost Etwau, Aziz and Mugisha. Impis lost Kizito, while Mongers lost Lukwago.
Owing to their summons, the 21 were stood down from competing on the National Sevens Journey, with Kyadondo, Tororo and Walukuba the remaining stops.
These ommissions meant that the competition would be tighter in some areas. Kyadondo showed us how much we shall miss them but how much their omission will mix up the pools.
The Stars
Ladies and gentlemen – raise your glasses and toast to Godwin Abwang, Gavin Mutara, Jones Kamiza and Daniel Malcolm Okello. These gentlemen lit up Kyadondo 7s despite being very young in their careers.
The Rhinos won the third-place playoff, and part of the reason they actually made it that far was the size of the fight in Godwin Abwang.
Godwin Abwang against Heathens players
It is the best finish for the team battling relegation from core status not long ago. Gavin Mutara was the fulcrum of the Rhinos’ ferocious attack.
He knew how to reel in his mates, and he knew just how to find them. It was a good move for him to search for playing time at Rhinos rather than be part of the furniture at KOBs.
They took the team for the “Almost RFC” monicker into third place, beating up defending champions Jinja Hippos.
Jones Kamiza, Most Valuable Player. He was on fire this weekend. Kamiza led a not-so-strong Pirates through the 2022 National 7s calendar, featured in the premiership and is now back and dominating in the national 7s.
He is slowly but surely coming of age. With Kisiga and Wanyama being targeted, Kamiza was a ray of hope for the Stanbic Black Pirates, who made it to the final.
It is safe to say Pirates love themselves a Kyadondo finale. His boot is just as marvellous.
This drop goal by Jones Kamiza ????????
And the way the guy is calm @piratesrugbyUG @fatcatspod @ugrugbyfans pic.twitter.com/X4Ap8sKjNR— 2bobsports (@2bobsports) August 15, 2023
Daniel Malcolm Okello
In the eyes of many, Daniel Malcolm Okello of the Platinum Credit Heathens was a close competitor for the MVP Gong.
The level of maturity and poise on the shoulders of Daniel was above everyone else at Kyadondo 7s. Daniel has been with the U20 program, is a National Schools Champion with Hanna and is a pathway product of the Kyadondo Rugby Club systems.
When things looked bleak in the groups against KOBs, he broke the line and inspired multiple Heathens tries to push the game beyond the reach of the Tooro 7s champions.
When all avenues were shut down on Chisano, Ssebuliba and Wokorach, it was Daniel Malcolm Okello’s brilliance that shot the Heathens past the Pirates in the Kyadondo 7s final.
Daniel Malcolm Okello
Rugby will now head to the East, the land of the wise, to Tororo to celebrate the memory of Mr Mileke and his family’s service to the game. Safe travels.
Courtesy Photos
