Rugby should learn from FUFA’s tribulations
Sep 13, 2008
THE demise of the national soccer team the Cranes should provide some food for thought for URU. To compare the administration of soccer to rugby administration in Uganda is a no contest.
IN THE RUCK WITH PETER OFONG
THE demise of the national soccer team the Cranes should provide some food for thought for URU. To compare the administration of soccer to rugby administration in Uganda is a no contest.
For 32 years, Uganda has failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of nations while the equivalent event in rugby was won by Uganda just 10 years after joining IRB.
This is not to say the administration of rugby in Uganda is flawless which is why we must continue to raise the bar and judge URU by very high standards.
RWC preparations unsatisfactory
There are 2 RWC qualifications round the corner but the reality is there are serious issues with the preparations.
The sevens RWC qualifier runs from October 31 to November 1 in Tunisia and the fifteens will also take place in Tunis at a yet to be confirmed date next year.
Poor planning and forecasting by URU has another ill prepared lot getting ready for the seven’s qualifiers.
A 42-0 defeat by minnows Zambia in this year’s safari sevens juxtaposes the new lows to which Uganda has now sunk.
A six week training camp against the likes of Kenya, Zimbabwe and hosts Tunisia who have an annual seven’s schedule that includes several IRB circuits is taking the joke too far. These teams intensified their qualification preparations a year ago.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs coach Liam Middleton a year ago was quoted as targeting minimum of 12 international tournaments before the qualifiers!
It is one thing to be aware of the qualifiers but it is another thing to get prepared. The excuse over the years has been lack of sponsorship but UTL is now on board but the story has not changed.
Plan on improving 7s game needed
Irrespective of the results in Tunisia, URU should come forward with their strategic plan on improving the sevens game.
Stake holders need to know how what efforts URU have put into improving the game or whether it has been has just been forgotten!
There is still the IRB George sevens due December in South Africa and it would be prudent to keep the team training regularly.
THE demise of the national soccer team the Cranes should provide some food for thought for URU. To compare the administration of soccer to rugby administration in Uganda is a no contest.
For 32 years, Uganda has failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of nations while the equivalent event in rugby was won by Uganda just 10 years after joining IRB.
This is not to say the administration of rugby in Uganda is flawless which is why we must continue to raise the bar and judge URU by very high standards.
RWC preparations unsatisfactory
There are 2 RWC qualifications round the corner but the reality is there are serious issues with the preparations.
The sevens RWC qualifier runs from October 31 to November 1 in Tunisia and the fifteens will also take place in Tunis at a yet to be confirmed date next year.
Poor planning and forecasting by URU has another ill prepared lot getting ready for the seven’s qualifiers.
A 42-0 defeat by minnows Zambia in this year’s safari sevens juxtaposes the new lows to which Uganda has now sunk.
A six week training camp against the likes of Kenya, Zimbabwe and hosts Tunisia who have an annual seven’s schedule that includes several IRB circuits is taking the joke too far. These teams intensified their qualification preparations a year ago.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs coach Liam Middleton a year ago was quoted as targeting minimum of 12 international tournaments before the qualifiers!
It is one thing to be aware of the qualifiers but it is another thing to get prepared. The excuse over the years has been lack of sponsorship but UTL is now on board but the story has not changed.
Plan on improving 7s game needed
Irrespective of the results in Tunisia, URU should come forward with their strategic plan on improving the sevens game.
Stake holders need to know how what efforts URU have put into improving the game or whether it has been has just been forgotten!
There is still the IRB George sevens due December in South Africa and it would be prudent to keep the team training regularly.