2012 Nile Special Rugby League Kicks Off ,By Smith Oba

With homes and bars across the continent connected to DStv full of sports lovers glued to the “other sports”, all is bound to change this Friday 13^th January, because Supersport shall begin showcasing the hitherto un-seen talent that is Uganda Rugby, when the 2012 rugby league season officially starts.

Matched up to kick start what is predicted to be the most enchanting league season in Ugandan rugby history are 2 teams that have grown in all aspects of professional sport over the years to give the traditionally known rugby teams a run for their historical currency, and these are the G$S Pirates and Toyota Buffaloes, the latter having re-invigorated themselves in the off-season.

You may notice that the letter 4 comes with the dollar sign on your keyboard, so G4S is not that hard to find on the keyboard, just press shift and 4 and it’s synonym will imprint on your computer screen, extremely ironic due to the fact that the rest of the rugby teams look at the new Pirates team as the team with such a huge financial backing that they could use their reserves in Bank of Uganda to pay Basajjabalaba for a market and no one would even complain about any loss! They also joke that they should just buy the trophies and save us the hustles, but no, the hustle shall go on!

Pirates were the team to beat last season, only falling short of trophies by a whisker, shorter than the braids UPDF captured from Kony’s dreadlocks in Garamba, missing the man by inches. They have learnt their lessons and vow to win all trophies this year, under the guidance of new head coach and seasoned Team Manager, Godwin Kayangwe.

The Toyota Buffaloes aren’t diddling around either and have been busy in the player’s market shopping recruits like it was an AMISOM mission! Experienced player Robert Seguya, whose knowledge of the rugby game is only comparable to HE Kagu on “how to win many elections”, shall lead the Buffaloes impending stampede over any opponents. His skills shall be buffered by the new kid on the block Philip Wokorach, the “swagerrific” recruit from HANA mixed school, who led his team to the national schools championship last year and is expected to steal the shine in Ug rugby from fellow youth of swag, Justin “Slayer” Kimono.Another Baby Cranes star to be unveiled is youthful center Alfred Bijik,Uganda’s future inside center. Also crossing over with Seguya from league champions Heathens to Buffaloes,is  experienced lock Gerson Onono, who is expected to lead the buffalo charges along with the 2 new recruits….the big 3 can we say? We await.

The opening game shall be played at the Kyadondo Rugby Club at 4.30pm, sponsored by the perennial biggest supporters of Uganda Rugby, Nile Special, whose vast array of ballistic sister pints shall also be available at the usual low prices that make us wonder why KACITA traders really want to strike. Have you seen that Castle Lite of 2,000 bucks at the Kyadondo Rugby Club? U will never strike.

On hand at the game shall be the fanzone MC crew to keep you on top of the goings on as we get to see which team re-invented themselves better, the RAV 4 guys or the top security firm in town, G4S.Fanzone game activation coming to a cinema new you.

So as we gear to enjoy this fantabulous season, keep in mind that the record holders for the annual rugby league are UTL Kobs with 10 titles, but this is so in the distant past that most fans seem to think the MTN Heathens are record holders, maybe because of the little fact that they (Heathens) have won it three times in a row, including the 2011 edition, making them the team to dislodge.

MTN Heathens have 9 league titles in their ownership and are seriously hammering away at Kobs record, but will they go past the rest this season…….Only Kobs have won the league 5 years in a row,can MTN Heathens wipe away that record?A resurgent Kobs waits in the wings this year…we wait!

C ya on Friday!!!!