Time to reward top teams with cash
Aug 09, 2009
THE 2009 Bell Lager Super 8 Rugby League came to a photo finish at the weekend was yet more proof of giant strides rugby has taken in Uganda. The winner was decided at the league’s final whistle of a pulsating encounter between arch-rivals utl Kobs and
OPINION
By Douglas Mazune - Sports writer
THE 2009 Bell Lager Super 8 Rugby League came to a photo finish at the weekend was yet more proof of giant strides rugby has taken in Uganda.
The winner was decided at the league’s final whistle of a pulsating encounter between arch-rivals utl Kobs and the eventual champions MTN Heathens.
That for the first time in over ten years, Uganda’s premier rugby competition was such a tightly contested affair is testimony of the rising level of competition.
For the second year running G4S Pirates, just like fast emerging Mongers, were also a force to contend with, in a race that was hitherto always a two-horse affair between the traditional giants Kobs and Heathens.
With the level of competition taking leaps, there is also need to further inspire outstanding teams with cash prizes.
With such money at stake, teams will compete for more than just bragging rights.
The uganda telecom sevens circuit and the hugely popular annual fans’ rugby festival in Jinja have demonstrated how exciting rugby can be with some cash prizes at stake.
The Uganda Rugby Union should include this money in its budget as a means of motivation for hard work.
This would not be asking for too much since the same corporate sponsors backing rugby in Uganda and East Africa already reward winners with cash prizes in other sports like golf, tennis, football to mention but a few. It’s long overdue for rugby sweat to be rewarded with legal tender.
By Douglas Mazune - Sports writer
THE 2009 Bell Lager Super 8 Rugby League came to a photo finish at the weekend was yet more proof of giant strides rugby has taken in Uganda.
The winner was decided at the league’s final whistle of a pulsating encounter between arch-rivals utl Kobs and the eventual champions MTN Heathens.
That for the first time in over ten years, Uganda’s premier rugby competition was such a tightly contested affair is testimony of the rising level of competition.
For the second year running G4S Pirates, just like fast emerging Mongers, were also a force to contend with, in a race that was hitherto always a two-horse affair between the traditional giants Kobs and Heathens.
With the level of competition taking leaps, there is also need to further inspire outstanding teams with cash prizes.
With such money at stake, teams will compete for more than just bragging rights.
The uganda telecom sevens circuit and the hugely popular annual fans’ rugby festival in Jinja have demonstrated how exciting rugby can be with some cash prizes at stake.
The Uganda Rugby Union should include this money in its budget as a means of motivation for hard work.
This would not be asking for too much since the same corporate sponsors backing rugby in Uganda and East Africa already reward winners with cash prizes in other sports like golf, tennis, football to mention but a few. It’s long overdue for rugby sweat to be rewarded with legal tender.