Rugby Cranes target Elgon Cup win

By Johnson Were in Nairobi

Elgon Cup first leg

Men

Kenya v Uganda 6pm

Women

Kenya v Uganda 3:30pm

HISTORY favours Kenya but Rugby Cranes captain Alex Mubiru is not bothered ahead of the Elgon Cup first leg in Nairobi today.

Uganda last beat Kenya during the Nairobi game after a draw in Kampala to lift the crown in 2006. 

The hostile home crowd, unfavourable weather and the floodlit pitch all stand as stumbling blocks for the Rugby Cranes but team captain Alex Mubiru is unfazed. 

Mubiru thinks said that the crowd, and sheer size of their opponents will not be an issue that will determine the result of the day but rather the determination of players to return with a positive result.

“They are not immortals but human beings like us and what the boys have emphasized is to show determination. We are in good shape and the weather is not as cold as we expected so we are out to write history by claiming an away win here (Nairobi).

“Giants like Ivory Coast and Namibia hava all fallen prey to us and Kenya is not so special after all we have defeated them twice recently,” Mubiru stressed.

Uganda last beat Kenya away in the Elgon Cup in 2006 when they dished out a 22-0 hiding in Nairobi to lift the trophy following a 7-7 draw in Kampala.

Coach Magona is expected to make use of forwards Ronald Adigas, Alex Mubiru, Arthur Mukama, Denis Mulo, Romano Ogwal and Scott Oluoch to counter the Kenya’s heavy weight pack led by Harlequins star Joel Ngang. 

Fly half Jasper Ochen will take charge of the kicking together with fullback /winger Jonathan Bishop Onen.

Whether to apply a running game or a physical ball carrying game will depend on the game plan applied by the Kenyans under their southern African tactician Jerome Paawaters.

The games will start with the Lady Rugby Cranes taking on Kenya in the Ladies Elgon Cup tie that doubles as a 2014 France World Cup qualifier. 

The 60,000 capacity stadium built in 1987 is located in Kasarani, on outskirts of Nairobi, southern Kenya, in the East African highlands, 15kms from Nairobi town.