Just as they finished in the regular season of the Nile Special rugby premiership, the top two clubs, Stanbic Black Pirates and KCB Kobs, each have one foot in the final already.
Over the weekend, the two edged their first leg semifinals. But that was only just. Pirates beat the Platinum Credit Heathens 17-12 away at Kyadondo, while Kobs edged the Jinja Hippos 25-23 in their own Dam Waters backyard. Incidentally, this was after the Hippos held a halftime lead of 14-3.
There is still all the work to do by the four teams, with the two ties still in the balance, although Kobs and Pirates, who lead in the clashes have had something special about them.
Timothy Bulooti, the assistant coach at the Rhinos, who remain the only team to beat Kobs in the regular season said: “Both Kobs and Pirates have looked better than the rest of us because of their quality squad depth. That has enabled them to remain so competitive.”
A case in point was last weekend, when Kobs did not have their star player, Joseph Aredo and Calvin Gizamba. They were able to call on Joseph Ijongat and Josiah Ssempeke to fill the void without much fuss.
Usually, Kobs’ front row would have the experienced Collins Kimbowa and Michael Otto starting. Yet, the youthful Blair Ayebazibwe and Edrine Ssempebwa have executed to great aplomb. Meanwhile, all this has happened after they lost the likes of Saul Kivumbi and Robert Aziku, two national team players.
Add Wilobo Mukili, who also joined the Victoria Sharks and their long serving hooker, Faraj Odugo, who is recovering from injury. Ordinarily, most teams would struggle under such circumstances, yet, like Kobs’ chairman, Stone Luggya pointed out a few months ago, their academy team, the Boks, has done a tremendous job in nurturing talent, which has given them the numbers.
In addition, when Pirates faced Heathens, they were without Nathan Bwambale and Didi Ruhweza, their mainstay front-rowers. Yet, with the display of Umar Duff, Ariho Muhumuza and Alex Ssebaggala, they were not missed.
Without Desire Ayera, but a bench comprising Eliphaz Emong, Conrad Wanyama, Mubarak Wandera, Jones Kamiza and Ivan Magomu, all national team players, Pirates are armed to the teeth.
Equally, Kobs remain a balanced team between the forwards and the backs. Maybe the same may not necessarily be said of their opponents, the Hippos. While the Hippos have good forwards, that make their pack solid, but also comprises a good jumper in Julius Opio at the line-out, they do not boast the same among the backs.
On the other hand, the assistant national team coach, Leonard Lubambula, who also doubles as the Walukuba Barbarians head coach, noted that Pirates and Kobs also have bundles of experience. Based on that, their opponent,s Heathens and Hippos, have a mountain to climb this weekend during the second legs.
jovi@observer.ug
