In June 2007, Uganda beat Nigeria 2-1 at Namboole with a net buster from Geoffrey Massa, this was prime Super Eagles mania, Sadat Sekajja scored 3 hat tricks in the Copa Coca Cola taking his tally to 14 that month, Benjamin Kiplangat outrun the Kenyans on track.
That alone was a successful haul but USPA (Uganda Sports Press Association) with 420 points agreed that the outstanding sportsman that month even acknowledging the wild run from 800m sensation Justine Bayiga was none other than Simon Wakabi from the Rugby Cranes and UTL KOBs.
Score 20-19, the foes, the erstwhile unbeaten WelchiWitas of Namibia, captained by the most phenomenal rugby player in the world, Jacques Burger. Namibia arrived in Kampala for what was supposed to be a routine rout of an unknown opponent, took an early lead and were playing Uganda out of the park.
An early break from the man, the legend Allan Musoke was tracked by “that man” Burger (who else?), it all looked doom and gloom, the sun continued to beam happiness. With that tackle that made Pythagoras so happy it seemed sealed and stamped, I mean the man had gotten “The Sokee” who had a headstart, what chance did we have? Burger for sometime held the record for most tackles made in a professional game of rugby when Exeter met his Saracens. A year later, he was on the XV of the World Cup despite Namibia losing every game.
Meet the second half and a fisherman from Entebbe went on the long fishing trip. 40 minutes is a long time but this spent eternity, it started with the man himself receiving the ball in his try area and doing a back volley that would make Berbatov green with envy to clear his lines to safety.
Although we were all used to Simon Wakabi and his silky madness, this was pure thuggery in athletic form, something switched in his mind, the Currie Cup side added a 3 to dig it, then the man who knows how to do a second round, picked his boots and set off on a run, Wakabigliding, interplay with his KOBs team mates met a prancing, who else? A man so quick you never saw his boots only his socks, try time. Adrian Bukenya dubbed Mussolini as Captain wasn’t shrieking away from the big time, TRY TIME. As SOKEE likes chiming on the microphone today. “MALARIA TIME”. Scores 15-19, no one had ever run the Big Blue close on the continent.
Wakabi at this point playing with his signature cheekiness had thrown all caution to the wind, in his words, bano tubasobola. He then toyed the defense which parted like the red sea to deliver a rare and unimaginable spectacle. TRY and a lead.
Oh Anthony Kinene playing at flyhalf as on hand for 5 points off his boot.
That to me is my first memorable performance of a player in a rugby cranes jersey, SIMON WAKABI THE FISHER OF MEN.
