Heathens stunned in Super Cup 1st leg

By Johnson Were in Nakuru 

East Africa Super Cup (1st leg) 

Nakuru 23 Heathens 3 

Prize Money 

Winner sh8m 

Runners up sh2m 

HEATHENS coach Brian Tabaruka left Nakuru yesterday a dejected man. 

First he was overwhelmed by the number and size of sports facilities available for in the Kenyan town and wondered why the same cannot happen in Uganda. 

As he was still pondering over that, his side was run down 23-3 by hosts Nakuru RFC in the first leg of the inaugural East Africa Super Cup on Saturday evening. 

Mesmerised 

Tabaruka was overwhelmed by the realisation that every primary, secondary, tertiary institution and clubs have several sports facilities of their own. 

“These are the facilities we want in Uganda. If government could help and provide such then our sports would go a milestone,” Tabaruka stated while looking at the Nakuru Rugby Club. 

“This shows the level of support this Kenya government has towards sports,” he added. 

The facility has three play grounds used for both football and rugby, and another space for basketball and volleyball courts, on top of a club house. 

“We have five clubs training on one ground at Kyadondo which makes it difficult for the coaches to implement game plans because each team is using a small portion of the pitch,” Tabaruka added. 

At Kyadondo Rugby Club six clubs including Heathens, Buffaloes, Stallions, Tigers, Eagles and Thunderbirds share the same pitch. 

At Legends, D’Mark Kobs, Sailors, Rhinos, Boks, Black Panthers and G4S Pirates share the same pitch. 

Still optimistic 

But despite the margin of the defeat Heathens remain optimistic. Team captain Michael Wokorach attributed the loss to indiscipline and failure to convert four penalties that would have given them a 15-3 lead in the first half. His sentiments were echoed by colleague Roman Ogwal. 

“We conceded many penalties yet we failed to execute ours,” Ogwal noted after Jasper Ochen, who gave Heathens a 3-0 lead in the first half missed another four penalties for the hosts to finish the first half 6-3 on top. 

Broke down 

Heathens dominated the game in the first 20 minutes but broke down under Nakuru’s running game after Uganda referee Ramsey Olinga sin binned Heathens’ Allan Otim. 

Martin Muita managed three penalties and two conversions for Nakuru with Martin Owila, and Godwin Mbea adding a try each as the Wanyole triumphed 23-3 over the Uganda league champions. 

“We failed to execute our chances and our discipline was not the best something we are to correct before the Saturday second leg at Kyadondo,” Tabaruka stated after the game. 

The second leg of the event will be played at Kyadondo on Saturday.