Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo
30 April 2011
William Blick is planning to travel to London next month as the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) representative to finalise preparations for the visit of the England counties here come 2012.
For him, the trip is a done deal yet he still faces a fight to get re-elected as chairman when the body goes to polls tomorrow. Current URU vice chairman Paul ‘Foxy’ Ojambo wants him out.
This is not often that the top two bosses in rugby size up against each other.
The criterion often mirrors a boring and predictable succession from one chairman to the vice every four years. Ojambo has clearly broken away from the rule.
Blick offers an explanation. “He claims that we had an agreement where I serve one term of two years then he takes over,” the rugby boss says. “All I said was to do my time devising a plan and this needs four years.”
Ojambo, who sounded confident of victory, opted to say as little as possible to this reporter. However, he vehemently denies the agreement to succeed Blick opting to forward himself as the compromise candidate following his nomination by Kampala RFC.
“So many of the things we want collectively have not been done so I want us to achieve more,” Ojambo responds.
Throughout the two interviews, conducted within minutes of each other, Blick repeatedly referred to his marketing prowess as a weapon whereas Ojambo finds himself using the word “unity” like a greeting.
“I also learned that it’s his constitutional right. He differs with me saying that I am molding Martin Kasasira to become the next chairman,” Blick adds.
Kasasira, also Kobs chairman, is standing for vice chairmanship against Walker, who has the backing of Kampala just like Ojambo.
“I have nothing to say about that. If that’s what he told you then it’s his view. I am here to deliver unity,” says Ojambo. During the elections to be held at Lugogo Sports Complex, Blick is hoping to sway the vote from the ‘successes’ of the past two years.
There’s every reason to cut the slice into two.
Upon their triumph in 2009, it was a rather dream partnership thanks to the former’s technical nous and the latter’s marketing skills. “When I came into office, I promised to raise money and we have managed to bring Shs3bn in sponsorship – both cash and in kind,” Blick revels.
In addition, Uganda now has 11 national teams at all levels though none is fully sponsored. There’s a bulging development programme providing for regular competition between schools and universities.
Rugby has been to Namboole, Jinja has hosted the Uganda Cup final and Nakivubo Stadium is in line. Ojambo, the unifying factor, is banking on the alleged resentment of Blick by some clubs – something the chairman knows all too well.
“The big four clubs – Kobs, Heathens, Pirates and Rhino – never liked me when I stood since I was part of the old executive which they wanted out. To solve this, I formed the chairman’s roundtable,” Blick adds.
Ojambo wants to sort this friction quickly. “Sometime back, clubs were all at the same footing and no rivalries beyond the pitch so how did we get to this point and how do we get out?”
Of course, the bomb blasts at Kyadondo RFC last year is the lowest point because they dented sports’ ability to act as a sanctuary – something they both regard as both a challenge and failure.
The most contentious issue is the decline of the men’s national team. “It’s been a rebuilding phase with so many young players coming in. My focus has been on development so we committed mistakes along the way. As the head of technical affairs, Foxy should give an explanation,” Blick comments.
“Our mandate is to appoint coaches on merit after they apply which we did,” Ojambo says in his defence.
Blick wants continuity whereas Ojambo believes he can achieve more. There’s every reason to think nothing fundamental will change since none is new.
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