Elgon Cup preparations take shape
Jun 05, 2013
THERE is no time to rest for the Rugby Cranes players who were part of the Ugandan franchise Rwenzori in the finals of Bamburi Rugby Super Series
By Johnson Were
Elgon Cup (June 15th)
Men
Kenya V Uganda
Women
Kenya v Uganda
THERE is no time to rest for the Rugby Cranes players who were part of the Ugandan franchise Rwenzori in the finals of Bamburi Rugby Super Series (BRSS) tournament last Saturday where the team narrowly lost 24-18 to Kenya franchise Ndovu.
The players who arrived on Sunday night from Nairobi by bus are all expected to take part in preparations ahead of the Elgon Cup first leg in Nairobi due June 15.
Alex Mubiru, Ronald Adigas, Asuman Mubiru, Solomon Mwanda, Arthur Mukama, Arnold Nyawanga, Marvin Odong, Denis Etuket, Davis Kiwalabye, Joseph Aredo and Michael Wokorach among others are all expected for training.
Magona began preparations without the spine of the team who have since joined. Photo by Johnson Were
Meanwhile, acting captain Alex Mubiru is confident that the current team can retain the Elgon Cup because they have been playing together for the past one year.
Alex Mubiru who guided Rwenzori to the Bamburi final gauged the ability and capacity of Kenyans and reckons that the Cranes still have an edge.
“This loss to Ndovu in the final has nothing to do with the national team. Some boys didn’t give their all because they were reserving themselves for the Elgon Cup next weekend,” Mubiru stated in an interview.
MAN ON A MISSION: Magona is determined to retain the Elgon Cup. Photo by Johnson Were
“I know they (Kenyans) are going to have international friendlies in South Africa, but I am confident our team is the one that beat them in the Confederation of Africa (CAR) semi-final last year in Tunisia and they still have that confidence,” Mubiru stressed.
He explained that Rwenzori had many youngsters who may not make it to the national team in favour of experienced players who will know what to do and will have that fighting spirit they exhibited last year when they beat Kenya in both the Elgon and Africa Cup (CAR Cup).
To retain the Elgon Cup Uganda beat Kenya 19-5 at Kyadondo and settled 12-0 in Nairobi to win the title 19-17 on aggregate and later went on to again defeat Kenya 21-19 in the Africa Cup semi-final in Tunisia.