Heathens to petition over Wokorach injury

By Johnson Were and Douglas Mazune

Nile Special Premier League

Buffaloes 22 DMark Kobs 20

Heathens 12 G4S Pirates 3

STILL bitter about circumstances in which youngster Phillip Wokorach broke leg, MTN Heathens will this week petition Uganda Rugby Union (URU) for what they described as ‘a malicious tackle’ by G4S Pirates’ Anthony Kinene.

Heathens coach Brian Tabaruka, who will miss the 19 year-old’s services for at least three months told New Vision Sport that his players reacted angrily because they had witnessed the horrific nature of the tackle.

Tabaruka said that Heathens had secured video footage which will be reviewed today in a bid to gather conclusive evidence before they hand in their case to Uganda Rugby Union (URU).

“We were so disheartened. We got off that pitch as if we had lost the match. After that incident four of our players were out of the game. They were not focused. We could have even lost the match. I wonder why anybody could do that to a young man with a very promising great career,” Tabaruka fumed. 

AAR doctors assisted Rugby Union Medical Society colleagues led by Dr. Leonard Were, Dr.Samuel Guma, Dr. Tonny Lugya and Heathens’ club doctor did all their best before Wokorach was evacuated to hospital.

The Hana Academy senior leaver was discharged from AAR on Sunday night and Tabaruka was optimistic his mobility will have improved by the time he begins university education in August. 

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A series of pictures that show how Heathens’ Phillip Wokorach broke his leg after being tackled by Pirates’ Kinene during their semi finals game on Saturday. Photos by Mpalanyi Sentongo

Heathens will have to recover from Wokorach’s setback before they face Toyota-Marsh Buffaloes in the Nile Special Premier Rugby League final March 6. 

Heathens and Buffaloes edged G4S Pirates and D’Mark Kobs with 12-3 and 22-20 wins respectively in the two mouth-watering semifinals at Kyadondo rugby ground on Saturday. 

Kinene speaks out

“I am ready to face any action if found guilty. It happened during a tackle and there is no way I could intend to hurt Philip. I am national coach and this boy is a national player,” Kinene stated. 

On camera

A series of New Vision digital photographs, taken at a rate of five frames per second, captured a seemingly innocent tackle where Kinene landed on Wokorach’s leg.