Soita, Wakabi join Elgon Cup battle
Aug 14, 2008
THE Rugby Cranes vice captain Moses Soita and team-mate Simon Wakabi passed late fitness tests for the Elgon Cup return leg in Nairobi, Kenya tomorrow.
Tomorrow
Elgon Cup second leg
Kenya v Uganda
By Douglas Mazune
THE Rugby Cranes vice captain Moses Soita and team-mate Simon Wakabi passed late fitness tests for the Elgon Cup return leg in Nairobi, Kenya tomorrow.
The team departed last night.
Cranes coaching director David Dobela had delayed releasing his squad pending the late tests for Soita and Wakabi.
“I should have named the squad on Tuesday but Wakabi had fever and didn’t train on Monday,†South African Dobela explained.
“We were also yet to get a final word from the doctor about Soita’s thigh injury.â€
Despite the injuries that have rocked his squad, Dobela is confident the side will successfully guard their 17-point cushion in the return leg. Uganda beat Kenya 20-3 in the first leg held in Kampala in May.
“The team is well prepared and focused on the game. My team is good but the Kenyans will be tough opponents having gone out of the Africa championship.
This is their only chance for silverware in the 15s but we also have to protect our IRB ranking,†Dobela remarked.
Felix Lubega and Edmond Tumusiime who were injured in the World Cup qualifier against Madagascar were ruled out much earlier.
Iron Man Mathias Ochwo is still serving a five-week suspension handed out by the Uganda Rugby Union (URU).
Meanwhile, the Uganda U-19 national team may not travel to Tunisia for IRB U-20 rugby World Cup qualifiers due to financial constraints.
The URU has managed to raise only $16,000 out of the required $30,000 for air tickets.
Elgon Cup second leg
Kenya v Uganda
By Douglas Mazune
THE Rugby Cranes vice captain Moses Soita and team-mate Simon Wakabi passed late fitness tests for the Elgon Cup return leg in Nairobi, Kenya tomorrow.
The team departed last night.
Cranes coaching director David Dobela had delayed releasing his squad pending the late tests for Soita and Wakabi.
“I should have named the squad on Tuesday but Wakabi had fever and didn’t train on Monday,†South African Dobela explained.
“We were also yet to get a final word from the doctor about Soita’s thigh injury.â€
Despite the injuries that have rocked his squad, Dobela is confident the side will successfully guard their 17-point cushion in the return leg. Uganda beat Kenya 20-3 in the first leg held in Kampala in May.
“The team is well prepared and focused on the game. My team is good but the Kenyans will be tough opponents having gone out of the Africa championship.
This is their only chance for silverware in the 15s but we also have to protect our IRB ranking,†Dobela remarked.
Felix Lubega and Edmond Tumusiime who were injured in the World Cup qualifier against Madagascar were ruled out much earlier.
Iron Man Mathias Ochwo is still serving a five-week suspension handed out by the Uganda Rugby Union (URU).
Meanwhile, the Uganda U-19 national team may not travel to Tunisia for IRB U-20 rugby World Cup qualifiers due to financial constraints.
The URU has managed to raise only $16,000 out of the required $30,000 for air tickets.