Ruggers set new season underway
TODAY the 2009 Bell Super 8 league season commences with lots of eager fans now scheduling their Saturday afternoons appropriately after a couple of months off season.
IN THE RUCK - By Peter Ofong
TODAY the 2009 Bell Super 8 league season commences with lots of eager fans now scheduling their Saturday afternoons appropriately after a couple of months off season.
As usual I will attempt to analyse each team's fortunes for the season and today I begin with defending champions and Uganda's most successful club UTL Kobs.
How Kobs won the 2008 league and Cup
Kobs made it 3 league titles in a row after winning the 2008 Guinness Super 8 league. They lost only one game to rivals Heathens in their relentless match to the title.
Playing as one solid unit Kobs, had that extra winning mentality and pedigree to outlast their opponents even though Heathens and Pirates pushed them hard in their head to head clashes.
For good measure, they added a third Uganda Cup to their trophy cabinet to cement their dominance of fifteens rugby.
Kobs' resolute defending saw them concede just 63 points while their ruthless counter attacking style of play yielded 525 points.
Despite winning the coveted league and cup trophy, they couldn’t reproduce the same form in the Sevens and Tens.
Are Kobs vulnerable?
A tumultuous end to the 2008 season has cast a dark cloud on Kob's title aspirations this year.
The banning of key first team players lock/back row Steven Ogwete, experienced lock Victor Wadia and upcoming coach Fred Mudoola for gross indiscipline has shaken the side especially the forward line.
It is also rumoured top Tight Head Prop in the country Kenneth Mutabaruka has prematurely retired from playing rugby.
If all went according to plan, 2009 was to be coach Fred Mudoola's comeback season at Loose Head Prop but a delayed operation for a shoulder injury sidelined him to coaching and his moment of madness at the 2008 Makerere Tens has virtually ended his playing career.
The Kobs front row-which was one of their few weak areas –– marshaled by Mudoola, Mutabaruka and Paul Barigye would have been a tough act to beat at any set piece.
Pundits have already predicted the long congested season is bound to take a toll on Kobs.
With many players featuring for the national team, their player depth will be stretched to the limit and this will be Kob’s archilles heel.
Kobs defiant
A chance discussion with a source from the Kobs camp yielded an interesting response.
Kobs pride themselves in their winning mentality and defeat for them is not an option.
It is important to note that in 2006 when Kobs swept all trophies not only had everyone written them off, they achieved this without a recognized coach.
The loss of our coach-though unfortunate –– will not affect the team as we have won trophies before without a coach', said the source.
He also hastened to remind me they won the double last year with many key players like Edmond Tumusiime, Allan Musoke and Simon Wakabi missing or under par through injury and work commitments, so the bans will not greatly affect them.
I will have to agree with many pundits that the congested season coupled with a loss of experienced international caps in the Kobs forward line is what will burst the Kobs bubble.
My prediction is Kobs will be very competitive but will loose the title race in the final stretch ending the league in second position.
Next week I will take a peek at one of the pretenders looking to dismantle Kobs dominance –– MTN Heathens.
TODAY the 2009 Bell Super 8 league season commences with lots of eager fans now scheduling their Saturday afternoons appropriately after a couple of months off season.
As usual I will attempt to analyse each team's fortunes for the season and today I begin with defending champions and Uganda's most successful club UTL Kobs.
How Kobs won the 2008 league and Cup
Kobs made it 3 league titles in a row after winning the 2008 Guinness Super 8 league. They lost only one game to rivals Heathens in their relentless match to the title.
Playing as one solid unit Kobs, had that extra winning mentality and pedigree to outlast their opponents even though Heathens and Pirates pushed them hard in their head to head clashes.
For good measure, they added a third Uganda Cup to their trophy cabinet to cement their dominance of fifteens rugby.
Kobs' resolute defending saw them concede just 63 points while their ruthless counter attacking style of play yielded 525 points.
Despite winning the coveted league and cup trophy, they couldn’t reproduce the same form in the Sevens and Tens.
Are Kobs vulnerable?
A tumultuous end to the 2008 season has cast a dark cloud on Kob's title aspirations this year.
The banning of key first team players lock/back row Steven Ogwete, experienced lock Victor Wadia and upcoming coach Fred Mudoola for gross indiscipline has shaken the side especially the forward line.
It is also rumoured top Tight Head Prop in the country Kenneth Mutabaruka has prematurely retired from playing rugby.
If all went according to plan, 2009 was to be coach Fred Mudoola's comeback season at Loose Head Prop but a delayed operation for a shoulder injury sidelined him to coaching and his moment of madness at the 2008 Makerere Tens has virtually ended his playing career.
The Kobs front row-which was one of their few weak areas –– marshaled by Mudoola, Mutabaruka and Paul Barigye would have been a tough act to beat at any set piece.
Pundits have already predicted the long congested season is bound to take a toll on Kobs.
With many players featuring for the national team, their player depth will be stretched to the limit and this will be Kob’s archilles heel.
Kobs defiant
A chance discussion with a source from the Kobs camp yielded an interesting response.
Kobs pride themselves in their winning mentality and defeat for them is not an option.
It is important to note that in 2006 when Kobs swept all trophies not only had everyone written them off, they achieved this without a recognized coach.
The loss of our coach-though unfortunate –– will not affect the team as we have won trophies before without a coach', said the source.
He also hastened to remind me they won the double last year with many key players like Edmond Tumusiime, Allan Musoke and Simon Wakabi missing or under par through injury and work commitments, so the bans will not greatly affect them.
I will have to agree with many pundits that the congested season coupled with a loss of experienced international caps in the Kobs forward line is what will burst the Kobs bubble.
My prediction is Kobs will be very competitive but will loose the title race in the final stretch ending the league in second position.
Next week I will take a peek at one of the pretenders looking to dismantle Kobs dominance –– MTN Heathens.