Victoria crashes out of Bamburi Series

By Johnson Were in Kakamega

Papa 8 Kifaru 6

Ndovu 40 Victoria 6

UGANDAN franchise Hima Cement Rwenzori holds Uganda’s pride in the Bamburi Rugby Super Series after the Protector Victoria crashed out with a humiliating 40-6 defeat by defending champions Ndovu of Kenya.

Rwenzori face Kenya’s Kifaru next weekend in Nakuru in a must win fixture. 

If Rwenzori fails to win then the knock out stage will be an all-Kenyan affair.

Former G4S Pirates and U-19 national team coach who is currently coaching Ndovu, Brian Makalama attributed the defeat to lack of exposure.

Makalama said that the Ugandan side was made up of young boys that were intimidated by the size of his Ndovu side and said Rwenzori should not make the same mistake.

“They are good but were scared in the beginning and that is why they lost with such a big margin,” Makalama told New Vision Sport after the game played at Kakamega High School.

Victoria conceded a 40-0 score at half time but defended better in the second half and didn’t concede but managed to score two penalties.

Makalama who now coaches western club Bulls said that his side is focused on retaining the title they won last year.

Victoria coach Robert Sseguya also attributed his side’s defeat to fear.

“If they were better why didn’t they manage any score in the second half? The boys were just scared and woke up late.”

Stallone Arinaitwe scored Victoria’s two penalties while Nick Lango, Elkins Musonye Kalvin Omiyo, Edwin Makori, Kelvin Otieno scored Ndovu’s tries with Martin Muita managing all the conversions.

The defeat means that Victoria cannot make the knockout stages and Rwenzori which faces Kifaru in Nakuru on May 24 in a decider of who joins Papa in the semi-final will fly Uganda’s flag.

Papa became the first team to qualify for the BRSS semi-final after edging Kifaru 8-6 in a thrilling encounter.