Rugby 7S Title Triumph Refreshing Team Won the Africa Cup in 2007

64 NEW VISION, Monday, October 3, 2016 VISION SPORT Vision Sport OPINION BY WILLIAM MUWONGE SENIOR SUB EDITOR Rugby 7s can open a new chapter in Uganda ganda will come under increased scrutiny on the international stage after lifting the Rugby Africa sevens title for Uthe fi rst time last month. Tolbert Onyango’s team edged Namibia in the fi nal after overcoming hosts Kenya in the semi- fi nal to be crowned African champions. Onduparaka edged SC Villa on Saturday, a couple of days after defeating KCCA, another established team, in the Azam Uganda Premier League The wave of joy on the domestic stage is under- standable given that it had taken close to a decade for a senior team to shine on the continent. Uganda hit international headlines after the 15s Rugby 7s title triumph refreshing team won the Africa Cup in 2007. At the junior level, Uganda took the Division B here was nothing session and afternoon training. more refreshing last James Bakama: This is all punctuated with a crown in the 2014 African Rugby U-19 Cup on week than Uganda’s balanced diet and top notch home soil. Ttriumph in the Africa I SAY SO medical insurance. Success in the Nairobi show cleared the way for Rugby sevens Championship Then on top of all this, the in Nairobi. player is also assured of a a possible and historic appearance at the 2018 African giants South Africa This was undoubtedly our proper kit, an attractive train- are also not very far away. World Cup sevens. best rugby result since win- ing allowance and salary. One thing we should do is To reach this stage, Uganda will have to compete ning the 15s at the same Uganda Rugby Union should professionalizing the way we go level nine years ago. also be thinking in that direc- and produce decent results at the World Cup about the game. It is one of those rare tion. series next year. The prime area to look at good spells in Ugandan We simply can’t reap where here is the team. The Dubai sevens, Cape Town sevens and Hong sport. we haven’t sowed. One of the reasons Kenya is Kong sevens will provide another big test for the Hardly had we stopped The good thing is that rugby thriving in the sevens is be- toasting to athlete David has the goodwill of Ugandan team. On the pitch, Onyango has a young team cause of having a team largely Emong’s Paralympic silver, than sponsors. with an average age of 21 years. of contented full time players. the Rugby Cranes also gave us This defi nitely has a lot to do Ours to the contrary is a case The players are eager to go a step better and something to continue smiling with the elitist background of of divided loyalty. need support on all fronts. about. the sport. You have a player who is But as we toast to our rugby Many policy makers today Already, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) has employed by a bank and has to victory in Nairobi, it is also have at some point been offered to support the team at another level. sneak from work to make time time we planned how to not engaged with the sport. for training. UOC wants the team to compete at the 2018 only maintain the title but also On top of all this is the fact And when this player eventu- Commonwealth Games and at the 2020 Olympic further raise our game. that the country’s richest sports ally makes it to Lugogo at say Games. I look to times when we will body- Uganda Olympic be able to emulate our neigh- 6pm, he has a half pitch to Committee (UOC) has prom- UOC pledged to fund the team’s programme for bours Kenya by playing at the sweat out with the rest of the ised Uganda Rugby Union the Olympic Games qualifi ers. Rugby Sevens World Cup. ground shared by other teams. (URU) full backing. Therefore, Uganda Rugby Union has to set the That shouldn’t be very Matters are not helped by the That UOC president William 30 minute training session. ball rolling by forwarding their programmes for diffi cult. For starters, we are Blick is also a former rugby advantaged by proximity. Compare that to a Kenyan player and URU president, is these events to UOC and the other relevant bodies. Kenya is just next door. If we colleague whose rugby and a relationship that the union Competing at these events has a number of can’t beat them at their own work environment allow him should make the best of. game, why not copy them. very much more. If URU plays its cards right, positive effects, not only for the players but the He wakes up at 5am and goes game in the country. It is all about seeing how the sky should be the limit for things are done across the bor- for jogging, returns an hour the national team. This is an opportunity we should fully grab. der and learning a few lessons. later to some rest before a gym YOUR LETTERS Send your correspondence to: The Letters Editor, The New Vision, P.O. Box 9815, Kampala; or sports@ newvision.co.ug; or deliver directly to the newspaper’s headquarters on Plot 19/21 First Street, Industrial Area, Kampala CoRSU initiative good It is refreshing to have EDITOR -I read with profound happiness a New Vision story that CoRSU Rehabilitation a new sports complex Hospital management has organised a medical EDITOR -It is refreshing to have construction outreach in partnership with Canadian spe- of a sports complex at the Bishop Stuart cialists with the objective of getting athletes University, Mbarara going on. New Vision with injuries back in shape in future. The indicated that the project would be complet- programme, due this week, will be followed by ed next year. The story further indicated that a seminar about a medical presentation on the complex will have facilities for events like measures to prevent injuries. Treating injuries football, netball, basketball and handball. is expensive and many athletes are unable to Many sports facilities upcountry are not in do so. Many athletes suffer quietly with the good shape because they are not cared for. The year was 2004.... Moses Otiti takes charge of a moment at the Lugogo courts effect being that their careers are negatively It is my prayer that the Bishop Stuart affected. Athletes with injuries would make University complex will be properly main- From the Past use of this programme to get back to shape tained. The existence of the complex could and prolong their careers. improve sports in the region. Kololo High School’s Moses Otiti makes a of the national schools tennis championships Edward Mukiibi Musa Mugisha backhand return during the preliminary stage held at the Lugogo courts in Kampala Kampala Mbarara.

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