After winning the Africa Women’s Cup Division one in April, away in Ivory Coast, the Lady Rugby Cranes are now bracing themselves for the big one; the women’s rugby Africa Cup from June 7 to 15.
This has always been the dream of any 15s rugby player, at least Jennifer Musanabera, a prop, who will be making her debut for the Lady Rugby Cranes, said, with an extended grin on her face, a few weeks back.
By then, Musanabera was still auditioning herself as a fit in coach Charles Onen’s Lady Rugby Cranes team. But following her introduction in the second half for the Black Pearls in the clash against the Thunderbirds on the final match-day of the Women’s championship, Musanabera helped change the tide for the Black Pearls, who had largely been on the back-foot in that game on May 17 at Kyadondo.
And as such, three weeks later, Musanabera will be boarding the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Madagascar tonight, to proudly represent her country. But excited as she, and probably a number of her teammates will be, heading to their maiden Women’s Africa Cup, they have to brace themselves for what is expected to be a big examination of their powers.
“We are definitely not oblivious of the challenge that lies ahead. But we are ready to embrace it. Playing against the big sides of African rugby will test us greatly. But at the same time, it will teach us,” Charles Onen, the Lady Rugby Cranes coach, said.
Yet, it does not get any tougher that the fact that Uganda open their account against the continent’s top side, South Africa. The last time Uganda played South Africa, was back in August 2019.
Uganda lost 5-89. One of the surviving players on the Lady Rugby Cranes squad then, is Samiya Ayikoru. Ayikoru, a full-back, scored Uganda’s only try against South Africa at that time.
But six years down the road, South Africa has changed a lot. Unlike then, their entire squad is fully professional, which puts them at a greater advantage than Uganda in as far as their standing in rugby is concerned. While almost all the Lady Rugby Cranes players do not depend on rugby for a livelihood, implying that the time they give the sport is limited, as they also have other day jobs, South Africa, on the other hand, only depend on rugby.
It is what puts food on the table. Therefore, the biggest part of their day is spent on the sport, which has enabled them improve their overall application. However, for Onen, he has spent the last one month trying to plug the holes in his side, even with the realization that this is a process that will take more years than just weeks.
For example, following the injury to Patricia Anek (Thunderbirds) and the busy work schedule of Peace Mirembe (Black Pearls), the situation in the Lady Rugby Cranes’ front row (props) has proved problematic.
Generally speaking, Uganda has a lack of size in its ranks. It is a problem even in the women’s league through the clubs. So, having few experienced props means that the scrummaging will prove hard.
Without sustainable pushing power, it is usually difficult to win a game of rugby at the top level. With good props, the maul attack and defence is largely sorted, giving a team a good platform upon which to get tries.
That said, with Christine Kokoi, Musanabera, Doreen Sijali, Phoebe Nakalembe and Doreen Mbabazi, the coach has youth exuberance to count on as props. They are the foundation of the team, and unless they hold, the team is broken.
“Our body positioning will be vital above everything, if we are to get over the line. We have practiced the set-pieces, too. But more importantly, I believe in these girls, and they should trust in each other,” Onen said of his team.
In a nutshell, Uganda has nothing to lose, but everything to gain from this campaign. South Africa, whom they play on June 7 is ranked number 12 in the world. Kenya and Madagascar, the other opponents are ranked number 22 and 25 respectively. Because Uganda are number 33, the adrenaline must be in overdrive to upset the apple-cut.