Uganda: Torturous Journey No Worry, Says Ahamya

Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo

29 April 2011

Kampala — Sam Ahamya has always believed that Ugandan teams have the ability of doing much better in the regional Bamburi Rugby Super Series if only they didn’t have to travel long distances in a short period of time.

When he was in charge of Victoria last year, he decried the scheduling equating it to a raw deal after having to endure four 14-hour bus journeys in a space of seven days. “I am not giving an excuse to our failures but playing three away games which involves 20 hours of travel each is too much to ask from players’ bodies,” Ahamya advised back then after his team lost 20-3 in the semifinals to Kenyan franchise Cheetahs.

One year on, Ahamya took Rwenzori, a team of mainly Rugby Cranes understudies to Nairobi yesterday to face the same side. His opinion has changed slightly though this time they have a relatively short trip across the border to face Buffaloes next week in Mumias, western Kenya which is about five hours from Kampala.

“Rehydration is important and we have planned for that journey better now. We started training much earlier so that players can recover and not train a lot in the final two weeks,” Ahamya said. “In future, we should have each Ugandan team playing at least one away game in order to balance.”

Unlike his team, Victoria, the other Ugandan franchise side, who open against Kenya’s Buffaloes at Kyadondo RFC tomorrow, will play all their games here.

Tomorrow – Bamburi Series

Cheetahs v Rwenzori

(2pm, LIVE SS9)

Rhinos v Sharks

(4pm, LIVE SS9)

Twiga v Lions (4.30pm)

Victoria v Buffaloes (5 pm)

AllAfrica – All the Time