Cranes on the high after CAR cup win
Sep 30, 2007
A day after winning the 2007 CAR Africa Cup, the Uganda Rugby Cranes are still on a high of sorts.
BY KALUNGI KABUYE
in Antananarivo, Madagascar
CAR Africa Rugby Cup
Final
Madagascar 11 Uganda 42
3rd – 4th playoff
Kenya 20 Cote d’Ivoire 17
A day after winning the 2007 CAR Africa Cup, the Uganda Rugby Cranes are still on a high of sorts.
They played against a 30,000 strong partisan crowd, against delaying tactics by the hosts (including missing dinner and un-booked training grounds). they even played against the cold and windy weather, but came up winners.
“You can wait for a lifetime and never get a moment like this,†full back John Musoke said. “we’ve been a long way and played rugby all over the place, but this is the one that really counts – Champions of Africa, how many people can say that, ever?â€
After spending more than an hour at the stadium as extremely disappointed Madagascans drifted away, the Ugandans were serenaded at a post tournament dinner held at the Stade Ifra, the national athletics stadium in Antananarivo.
After the dinner, national coach Yayiro Kasasa put into perspective what the win meant for both the players and for the nation at large.
“Ten years ago the biggest rugby tournament we played in was the Safari Sevens in Kenya, and we would regularly get hammered,†he said. “I remember the first win we had over Zambia, everybody went crazy. Looking back, it seems almost surreal that we now can say we are champions of African rugby.â€
But the real perspective came for the Kenyans, who congratulated the Ugandans after the finals, and seemed in awe of the Cranes.
“Somehow the win over Kenya was more exciting than this one,†team manager Henry Musoke said. “If we had won by one or two points, maybe, but 31! That one was sweeter although it was at the semi-final.â€
in Antananarivo, Madagascar
CAR Africa Rugby Cup
Final
Madagascar 11 Uganda 42
3rd – 4th playoff
Kenya 20 Cote d’Ivoire 17
A day after winning the 2007 CAR Africa Cup, the Uganda Rugby Cranes are still on a high of sorts.
They played against a 30,000 strong partisan crowd, against delaying tactics by the hosts (including missing dinner and un-booked training grounds). they even played against the cold and windy weather, but came up winners.
“You can wait for a lifetime and never get a moment like this,†full back John Musoke said. “we’ve been a long way and played rugby all over the place, but this is the one that really counts – Champions of Africa, how many people can say that, ever?â€
After spending more than an hour at the stadium as extremely disappointed Madagascans drifted away, the Ugandans were serenaded at a post tournament dinner held at the Stade Ifra, the national athletics stadium in Antananarivo.
After the dinner, national coach Yayiro Kasasa put into perspective what the win meant for both the players and for the nation at large.
“Ten years ago the biggest rugby tournament we played in was the Safari Sevens in Kenya, and we would regularly get hammered,†he said. “I remember the first win we had over Zambia, everybody went crazy. Looking back, it seems almost surreal that we now can say we are champions of African rugby.â€
But the real perspective came for the Kenyans, who congratulated the Ugandans after the finals, and seemed in awe of the Cranes.
“Somehow the win over Kenya was more exciting than this one,†team manager Henry Musoke said. “If we had won by one or two points, maybe, but 31! That one was sweeter although it was at the semi-final.â€