05/12/2014
Rugby Nation UG.
THE LOST GENERATION OF UGANDAN RUGBY (PART ONE)
In 2007, Uganda won the CAR tier 1A and from then on we can trace the woes of that Uganda rugby faces to that. The euphoria that followed much as it was genuine it also masked the truth Uganda was so lucky and were not yet a top tier nation as we thought we even after all still owned Kampala Rugby Club now known as Legends. The period we are talking about is between 2008-2012.
You see back then the School's league was the yardstick of the game and many good players coming from the system they were known as school boys and other players who came from non traditional rugby playing schools were also available. The real problem was that clubs took their affiliation with certain schools so seriously and when those schools can no longer provide the players of their standard, their whole spine has collapsed. It is said from the few we talked to if you were not from Budo then playing for Pirates was a pipe dream, Kobs-Namilyango, Heathens (had their internal system) though in all fairness some players went through the crack. The baby cranes were also a Godfather kingdom players were so certain they were making the team because of their school heritage, it is said (in rumours) some parents openly bribed to have their children on that team so as to have them qualify for the prestigious sports merit scholarships at University. So very many dissatisfied players always point to their first hurdle towards club rugby as failing to make the baby cranes and the minor league teams yet many players half their ability did so. In short if you were from schools like Kyambogo you had to be extremely good or patient. Kevin Mackmot and Otim Allan after many years of being a top players were perennially relegated to Boks (Kobs reserve team) behind players who are surely not as good we won't point names. Their frustration even had them play for Rwanda before last year when they were looking totally spent. Otim was summoned to the national team and now we can blame him for not being picked in his prime when he was one of the best players in the league.......
THE COLLAPSE OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL LEAGUE
In the earlier days, almost all top clubs had developmental teams. Making the rooster for those teams was a combination of skills, wit and school heritage. Many non ''school boys'' waited to play a game in vain as the ''masters'' had to play. When many of these players left then well almost all developmental teams have collapsed barring stallions. Pirates 2 can't really be said to be functional. So the open favouritism of players from Namilyango, Budo, SMACK and St Lawrence was the reason for the demise of the shield league. `Don't worry they are still many school boys in the league and also non school boys. We won't say the history of rugby is all inclusive as it is now we have also had apartheid. Those who made the league couldn't compete favourably for the national team because the legends of 2007 were still very present and they were sort of cult players. Hence their frustuation had them pour their energies elsewhere. When the players finally couldn't play on then emergency notes were made to make a new rooster but so far we are in that long awaited transition. Hope history won't rush us again in future decisions. TO BE CONTINUED........
