i've got a new blog up - Lady Cranes flight path to the IRB 7s World Cup. check it out on
www.ladycranesevensworldcupbound.blogspot.com
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Monday 13 October 2008
end of story
this is now the end of our story. thank you for staying with us all along our journey to dubai.
i will no longer be making any entries into this blog but will open a new blog next year and will keep you updated on our world cup exploits.
cheerio
Tuesday 7 October 2008
Brenda Kayiyi
Brenda Kayiyi
11 February 1987
Height: 5’1
Weight: 55.5kg
Brenda says … the day before the tournament I was so scared. i had never played in an international 7’s tournament before and kept thinking about the games I would play the next day. I found it very hard to sleep. I started our first game (against Zimbabwe) while shaking but when someone passed me the ball I opened out on the wing and ran. A Zimbabwe player grabbed me and I stopped so that I could offload the ball. Just as I was about to pop the ball to oncoming support I realized that she had released so I bolted for the try line. When I crossed the try line the only people chasing me were my teammates so when Helen pointed to the centre posts I did not hesitate to run there and score. It was the first try of the game and my first international try. That chased away the butterflies I had and I was able to play comfortably.
After our 2nd game of the day against Botswana I was so confident and relaxed such that when the team manager told us the ice bath was waiting i actually rounded up my teammates and headed to the changing room. My teammates were shocked to see kayonjo and Helen jumping into the icebath first (although Helen only put in her legs) then me following shortly after. I don’t know what it was but I was so sure we were going to qualify that not even the icebath could scare me. Our final game on Saturday was against Tunisia. They were good but I knew we could beat them. We played so well in the first half and the Tunisians did not get out of their 22 but we were not patient enough so we did score. It was 0 - 0 at half time. Helen scored in the second half but they equalized soon after. Despite their captain getting a yellow card the Tunisians scored again and converted it so the final score was 12 – 05. I cried after that game and I have never felt so bad. I could not believe we had lost. I was so happy when we were told that we were going to play the Tunisians again in the semifinal. We would revenge!
My roommate, charlotte, had got concussed in the game against Tunisia. She really wanted to play the next day and I could not imagine us playing without her. I made charlotte drink water all through the night hoping that her headache would go so that she would be allowed to play. In the morning, Charlotte said she felt fine so I told her to borrow head gear from Helen as I knew Helen always carried 2 of them. After she borrowed the head gear she came back to the room and went back to sleep wearing it. I knew we were going to win (although we found out later that charlotte was not allowed to play).
In the semi final we put the Tunisians under a lot of pressure but kept missing our chances. We finally scored and Helen converted it: the half time score was 07 – 00. This time it was me who got a yellow card in the second half. A Tunisian player had broken through the defence line and I made a desperate tackle from behind. Unfortunately it was a high tackle so I was sent off for 2 minutes. I wanted to cry. I felt I had let the team down. I watched in misery as the Tunisians put pressure on my teammates but they defended so well. Words cannot describe how I felt when the final whistle blew. I collapsed onto the ground and although people tried to make me stand my legs were too weak. It took a few minutes before I could get up and join my teammates and our fans celebrating.
I am so grateful for the coaches, team managers, doctors and my teammates who made this dream possible: especially mutaks and soggy who believed in me and put me on the team and Helen who kept on encouraging me and pushing me and teaching me new skills.
Lady Cranes, let’s not relax, we are not yet there. We stop in dubai.
11 February 1987
Height: 5’1
Weight: 55.5kg
Brenda says … the day before the tournament I was so scared. i had never played in an international 7’s tournament before and kept thinking about the games I would play the next day. I found it very hard to sleep. I started our first game (against Zimbabwe) while shaking but when someone passed me the ball I opened out on the wing and ran. A Zimbabwe player grabbed me and I stopped so that I could offload the ball. Just as I was about to pop the ball to oncoming support I realized that she had released so I bolted for the try line. When I crossed the try line the only people chasing me were my teammates so when Helen pointed to the centre posts I did not hesitate to run there and score. It was the first try of the game and my first international try. That chased away the butterflies I had and I was able to play comfortably.
After our 2nd game of the day against Botswana I was so confident and relaxed such that when the team manager told us the ice bath was waiting i actually rounded up my teammates and headed to the changing room. My teammates were shocked to see kayonjo and Helen jumping into the icebath first (although Helen only put in her legs) then me following shortly after. I don’t know what it was but I was so sure we were going to qualify that not even the icebath could scare me. Our final game on Saturday was against Tunisia. They were good but I knew we could beat them. We played so well in the first half and the Tunisians did not get out of their 22 but we were not patient enough so we did score. It was 0 - 0 at half time. Helen scored in the second half but they equalized soon after. Despite their captain getting a yellow card the Tunisians scored again and converted it so the final score was 12 – 05. I cried after that game and I have never felt so bad. I could not believe we had lost. I was so happy when we were told that we were going to play the Tunisians again in the semifinal. We would revenge!
My roommate, charlotte, had got concussed in the game against Tunisia. She really wanted to play the next day and I could not imagine us playing without her. I made charlotte drink water all through the night hoping that her headache would go so that she would be allowed to play. In the morning, Charlotte said she felt fine so I told her to borrow head gear from Helen as I knew Helen always carried 2 of them. After she borrowed the head gear she came back to the room and went back to sleep wearing it. I knew we were going to win (although we found out later that charlotte was not allowed to play).
In the semi final we put the Tunisians under a lot of pressure but kept missing our chances. We finally scored and Helen converted it: the half time score was 07 – 00. This time it was me who got a yellow card in the second half. A Tunisian player had broken through the defence line and I made a desperate tackle from behind. Unfortunately it was a high tackle so I was sent off for 2 minutes. I wanted to cry. I felt I had let the team down. I watched in misery as the Tunisians put pressure on my teammates but they defended so well. Words cannot describe how I felt when the final whistle blew. I collapsed onto the ground and although people tried to make me stand my legs were too weak. It took a few minutes before I could get up and join my teammates and our fans celebrating.
I am so grateful for the coaches, team managers, doctors and my teammates who made this dream possible: especially mutaks and soggy who believed in me and put me on the team and Helen who kept on encouraging me and pushing me and teaching me new skills.
Lady Cranes, let’s not relax, we are not yet there. We stop in dubai.
Thursday 2 October 2008
Josephine Namayega (Yogi)
Josephine Namayega (Yogi)
15 September 1979
Height: 5’8
Weight: 76kg
BEFORE
MIGHTY WOMAN OF VALOUR ...
we were at kampala rugby club after a 15's game and mutaks read names the for guys who were going to train for 7’s ... I (first from left) did not hear my name and it did not bother me that much because I used to think that 7's is a game for small speedy people. All the same I showed up for training with the 7s guys so as to improve my fitness. After 2 weeks, our fitness coach, doc Arthur told me impressed with my speed and asked me to join the seven's training squad. I was so over joyed (although I did not show it). 2 weeks before the qualifiers we had trial games and I was a bit nervous: I thought “if I do not play well today that’s the end of my world cup dreams”. before we started the games I told my teamates "I AM A VERY GOOD RUGBY PLAYER AND NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME." they all laughed because it sounded like a joke but I really meant it because I felt it (trumpet hahahahah). Some of them were shocked to hear mutaks name me as the captain of the second team (hey, honestly didnt bribe him) ... then I played ... it was my first best rugby game that I’ve ever played ... I took every gap that opened and chased after everyone in defence. I gave prossy a handoff that people say she flew about 5 metres back (THEY EXAGGERATE I’M SURE BUT HEY PROSSY WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE HAND-OFF ... HAHAHA). Then when mutaks read the final 14 the following week I knew I was going to make it to the last 12. I just had that unshakeable feeling from deep within.
I was so worried when we were told we had to go into camp 3 days before the tournament. I though my boss would not release me but God had softened her heart and she actually told me that we should have gone into camp earlier for better bonding (hmm GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS). we went to camp and people were in a jolly mood ... girls were eager to display their non rugby talent such as eating. I think that everyone who saw us eat was suitably impressed but … all good things come to an end. On Friday night girls lost their eating talent and food was a major burden (except for fortunate and aallyia). The moment we had waited for was a few hours away. We all piled into charlotte’s room to watch 7’s games and Mutaks came to give us a pre tournament team talk. He talked and I honestly got a running stomach that moment. I got so nervous that I went straight to my bed.
SATURDAY
most of us were still in a joyful mood. We played our first 2 games which were not so hard, but when tunisia came it was a hassle. we had many chances to score but we did not utilise them and we lost the game. i felt soooooooooooooo bad, but i told myself not to cry and then after soggie confirmed that we were playing tunisia in the semi final tears started rolling down my cheeks. i knew this is the moment we had to play with our minds, hearts, souls and all that we had. we went back to the hotel like we had already qualified. People were happy and i saw helen for the first time that week pile a huge heap of food on her plate. i was shocked ... i was like ok now this is it; something good is going to happen. we went to bed but to tell you the truth i was thinking of the semi final. I did not watch tv that night and I did not talk to my roommate (christine) either.
SUNDAY
I’ve never felt more of a UGANDAN like i felt that sunday morning ... i was thinking i had to do this for my nation. i think everyone in the team was more proud than ever to be a Ugandan. we went for breakfast and guess who we meet (or who met us) … the Tunisians. i cant think of any BULLIES like the ugandan women: we psyched them out and really played on their minds (well done girls). we heaped our plates with food (that we did not even eat but it still sent a message across - we were hungry) then as the Tunisians started to leave, we all stood up from our table at the same time making a racket with our chairs and marched off to our rooms before they could move a muscle ... we were reliably informed by the waitresses that it had scared the hell out of them. As we got ready for the game ... i could see the win in everyone's eyes. We played the game of our lives and we WON and cried happy tears to DUBAI.
I am so grateful to everyone who dedicated their time, resources and everything to help UGANDA REACH THE WORLD CUP not forgetting my coaches DAVID MUTAKA (MUTAKS) AND SEGUYA (SOGGIE) - you guys are the best. LOVE YOU AND GOD BLESS.
MY DEAR TEAMMATES I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THE JOURNEY. WE HAVE TO REACH OUR DESTINATION, WE CAN’T STOP ON THE WAY ... LETS GO ON GIRLS ... WE CAN TAKE THE WORLD CUP. GOD WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE ON OUR SIDE. I AM SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TEAM: WE ARE THE BEST TEAM IN UGANDA. I LOVE YOU ALL, TAKE CARE AND REMEMBER "SEX ONLY AFTER WORLD CUP” ... HAHAHAHA.
15 September 1979
Height: 5’8
Weight: 76kg
BEFORE
MIGHTY WOMAN OF VALOUR ...
we were at kampala rugby club after a 15's game and mutaks read names the for guys who were going to train for 7’s ... I (first from left) did not hear my name and it did not bother me that much because I used to think that 7's is a game for small speedy people. All the same I showed up for training with the 7s guys so as to improve my fitness. After 2 weeks, our fitness coach, doc Arthur told me impressed with my speed and asked me to join the seven's training squad. I was so over joyed (although I did not show it). 2 weeks before the qualifiers we had trial games and I was a bit nervous: I thought “if I do not play well today that’s the end of my world cup dreams”. before we started the games I told my teamates "I AM A VERY GOOD RUGBY PLAYER AND NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME." they all laughed because it sounded like a joke but I really meant it because I felt it (trumpet hahahahah). Some of them were shocked to hear mutaks name me as the captain of the second team (hey, honestly didnt bribe him) ... then I played ... it was my first best rugby game that I’ve ever played ... I took every gap that opened and chased after everyone in defence. I gave prossy a handoff that people say she flew about 5 metres back (THEY EXAGGERATE I’M SURE BUT HEY PROSSY WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE HAND-OFF ... HAHAHA). Then when mutaks read the final 14 the following week I knew I was going to make it to the last 12. I just had that unshakeable feeling from deep within.
I was so worried when we were told we had to go into camp 3 days before the tournament. I though my boss would not release me but God had softened her heart and she actually told me that we should have gone into camp earlier for better bonding (hmm GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS). we went to camp and people were in a jolly mood ... girls were eager to display their non rugby talent such as eating. I think that everyone who saw us eat was suitably impressed but … all good things come to an end. On Friday night girls lost their eating talent and food was a major burden (except for fortunate and aallyia). The moment we had waited for was a few hours away. We all piled into charlotte’s room to watch 7’s games and Mutaks came to give us a pre tournament team talk. He talked and I honestly got a running stomach that moment. I got so nervous that I went straight to my bed.
SATURDAY
most of us were still in a joyful mood. We played our first 2 games which were not so hard, but when tunisia came it was a hassle. we had many chances to score but we did not utilise them and we lost the game. i felt soooooooooooooo bad, but i told myself not to cry and then after soggie confirmed that we were playing tunisia in the semi final tears started rolling down my cheeks. i knew this is the moment we had to play with our minds, hearts, souls and all that we had. we went back to the hotel like we had already qualified. People were happy and i saw helen for the first time that week pile a huge heap of food on her plate. i was shocked ... i was like ok now this is it; something good is going to happen. we went to bed but to tell you the truth i was thinking of the semi final. I did not watch tv that night and I did not talk to my roommate (christine) either.
SUNDAY
I’ve never felt more of a UGANDAN like i felt that sunday morning ... i was thinking i had to do this for my nation. i think everyone in the team was more proud than ever to be a Ugandan. we went for breakfast and guess who we meet (or who met us) … the Tunisians. i cant think of any BULLIES like the ugandan women: we psyched them out and really played on their minds (well done girls). we heaped our plates with food (that we did not even eat but it still sent a message across - we were hungry) then as the Tunisians started to leave, we all stood up from our table at the same time making a racket with our chairs and marched off to our rooms before they could move a muscle ... we were reliably informed by the waitresses that it had scared the hell out of them. As we got ready for the game ... i could see the win in everyone's eyes. We played the game of our lives and we WON and cried happy tears to DUBAI.
I am so grateful to everyone who dedicated their time, resources and everything to help UGANDA REACH THE WORLD CUP not forgetting my coaches DAVID MUTAKA (MUTAKS) AND SEGUYA (SOGGIE) - you guys are the best. LOVE YOU AND GOD BLESS.
MY DEAR TEAMMATES I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THE JOURNEY. WE HAVE TO REACH OUR DESTINATION, WE CAN’T STOP ON THE WAY ... LETS GO ON GIRLS ... WE CAN TAKE THE WORLD CUP. GOD WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE ON OUR SIDE. I AM SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TEAM: WE ARE THE BEST TEAM IN UGANDA. I LOVE YOU ALL, TAKE CARE AND REMEMBER "SEX ONLY AFTER WORLD CUP” ... HAHAHAHA.
Monday 29 September 2008
Charlotte Mudoola
Charlotte Mudoola
2 August 1984
Height: 5’3
Weight: 55kg
Charlotte says … before the games I was so nervous that on Wednesday I was unable to eat and even got a fever. I was still at home then so my mum used all kinds of tricks to make me eat. Knowing that I fear I.Vs like crazy she tried to scare me that I would be fed through an I.V if I refused to eat. She even had to check my plate to ensure that I had finished my food. Meeting up with the girls for the evening training session kind of calmed me down. Training was so great that for I moment I forgot about the butterflies.
On Thursday morning I got the worst feeling ever that I lost my appetite. I tried to force breakfast down my throat but I did not succeed: I could not eat anything. Throughout Thursday and Friday I found it hard to eat because I kept thinking about the games that would determine uganda’s fate of qualifying for their first world cup. my roommate (brenda) and I kept waking up on Friday night as we were so nervous about the next day.
Saturday
Wow! Saturday was crazy for me especially before the game against Tunisia. The first games against Zimbabwe and Botswana were not so tough apart from the fact that I missed most of my conversions. I felt so bad but my kicking coach (Helen) was not disappointed, she kept encouraging me and she believed in me. Before the Tunisia game I was all fired up and wanted to butn everything that came my way. I mostly wanted the Tunisian winger (“the acholi”) and their centre (“superstar”). Unfortunately I did not finish the game because I got concussed and blacked out when making a big tackle. At least I prevented a try although everything is “blick” and just stars (I don’t remember and know what happened). When I regained consciousness I started asking connie (our team doc) what happened and what I was doing in the ambulance. Once I found out that we had lost, I cried and started asking for my teammates. Helen and Christine came to the ambulance to get me and I started crying again when I saw them. Christine told me to stop crying and to be strong. it was hard to stop crying but at some point we needed to think about the semifinal. I thought at that moment that we would be playing south Africa in the semifinal but we later found out that we were actually going to meet Tunisia again. that made me happy and I was determined to hit them and carry on where I had left off. I was so sure that I would play the semifinal on Sunday and was so determined and psyched up that I was not bothered about how severe my head injury was. Brenda kept waking me up at night to drink water saying that it would help me recover and that I would be fine the next day. I drank the water like a disciplined child. I think I drank about 8 litres of water in phases that night.
Sunday
I went to helen’s room early in the morning and asked her for her spare head gear which she gave to me. I put it on and slept in it so as to get used to it. I had never worn head gear before. She later strapped my ankle and I was so excited and pumped up. When it was time to leave the hotel, I packed my playing gear and was actually in time for everything. When we reached kampala rugby club I started changing into my warm up gear and then … boom … the coach and connie told me that I was not going to play that day. I felt like my world was crumbling and almost got concussed again from the shock. I could not believe I was going to miss our most important game of the tournament. Tears were in my eyes but Christine asked me not to cry. To make me feel better she promised me that the team was going to play hard for me and the game would be dedicated to me. I admit it sort of helped calm me down but I still wanted to play that game. I finally had to accept the fact that I was not going to play but despite that I had a good feeling that we were going to win. Watching the semi final from the side was torture for me. It reached a point where I put an arm around kyoita’s neck and started dragging her along the line. I was so nervous that I felt my heart drop to my pants. I was so happy when Helen tackled “acholi” so hard, twice (thank you Helen for tackling her. It felt good. It felt like I was doing it).
After
When the ref blew the whistle I could not believe it and ran onto the pitch like a mad woman on crystal meth (not sure what that feels like but I can only imagine). I wanted to cry but noticed most of my teammates were crying so I figured I needed to hold back my tears so I could comfort them. It was the greatest feeling ever, though I could not believe it. I just wanted to scream for everyone to hear plus the deaf and the dead. We had qualified for the “WORLD CUP”.
Final thoughts
I was glad to be a part of that team. I agree with Helen – it was the best team I have ever played with. And now one journey is over and we are about to start the second and final journey. It will be tough and hectic but I know we can make it.
WORLD CUP READY OR NOT, UGANDA IS COMING.
2 August 1984
Height: 5’3
Weight: 55kg
Charlotte says … before the games I was so nervous that on Wednesday I was unable to eat and even got a fever. I was still at home then so my mum used all kinds of tricks to make me eat. Knowing that I fear I.Vs like crazy she tried to scare me that I would be fed through an I.V if I refused to eat. She even had to check my plate to ensure that I had finished my food. Meeting up with the girls for the evening training session kind of calmed me down. Training was so great that for I moment I forgot about the butterflies.
On Thursday morning I got the worst feeling ever that I lost my appetite. I tried to force breakfast down my throat but I did not succeed: I could not eat anything. Throughout Thursday and Friday I found it hard to eat because I kept thinking about the games that would determine uganda’s fate of qualifying for their first world cup. my roommate (brenda) and I kept waking up on Friday night as we were so nervous about the next day.
Saturday
Wow! Saturday was crazy for me especially before the game against Tunisia. The first games against Zimbabwe and Botswana were not so tough apart from the fact that I missed most of my conversions. I felt so bad but my kicking coach (Helen) was not disappointed, she kept encouraging me and she believed in me. Before the Tunisia game I was all fired up and wanted to butn everything that came my way. I mostly wanted the Tunisian winger (“the acholi”) and their centre (“superstar”). Unfortunately I did not finish the game because I got concussed and blacked out when making a big tackle. At least I prevented a try although everything is “blick” and just stars (I don’t remember and know what happened). When I regained consciousness I started asking connie (our team doc) what happened and what I was doing in the ambulance. Once I found out that we had lost, I cried and started asking for my teammates. Helen and Christine came to the ambulance to get me and I started crying again when I saw them. Christine told me to stop crying and to be strong. it was hard to stop crying but at some point we needed to think about the semifinal. I thought at that moment that we would be playing south Africa in the semifinal but we later found out that we were actually going to meet Tunisia again. that made me happy and I was determined to hit them and carry on where I had left off. I was so sure that I would play the semifinal on Sunday and was so determined and psyched up that I was not bothered about how severe my head injury was. Brenda kept waking me up at night to drink water saying that it would help me recover and that I would be fine the next day. I drank the water like a disciplined child. I think I drank about 8 litres of water in phases that night.
Sunday
I went to helen’s room early in the morning and asked her for her spare head gear which she gave to me. I put it on and slept in it so as to get used to it. I had never worn head gear before. She later strapped my ankle and I was so excited and pumped up. When it was time to leave the hotel, I packed my playing gear and was actually in time for everything. When we reached kampala rugby club I started changing into my warm up gear and then … boom … the coach and connie told me that I was not going to play that day. I felt like my world was crumbling and almost got concussed again from the shock. I could not believe I was going to miss our most important game of the tournament. Tears were in my eyes but Christine asked me not to cry. To make me feel better she promised me that the team was going to play hard for me and the game would be dedicated to me. I admit it sort of helped calm me down but I still wanted to play that game. I finally had to accept the fact that I was not going to play but despite that I had a good feeling that we were going to win. Watching the semi final from the side was torture for me. It reached a point where I put an arm around kyoita’s neck and started dragging her along the line. I was so nervous that I felt my heart drop to my pants. I was so happy when Helen tackled “acholi” so hard, twice (thank you Helen for tackling her. It felt good. It felt like I was doing it).
After
When the ref blew the whistle I could not believe it and ran onto the pitch like a mad woman on crystal meth (not sure what that feels like but I can only imagine). I wanted to cry but noticed most of my teammates were crying so I figured I needed to hold back my tears so I could comfort them. It was the greatest feeling ever, though I could not believe it. I just wanted to scream for everyone to hear plus the deaf and the dead. We had qualified for the “WORLD CUP”.
Final thoughts
I was glad to be a part of that team. I agree with Helen – it was the best team I have ever played with. And now one journey is over and we are about to start the second and final journey. It will be tough and hectic but I know we can make it.
WORLD CUP READY OR NOT, UGANDA IS COMING.
Prossy Nakakande
Prossy Nakakande
5 March 1984
Height: 5’3
Weight: 55kg
Prossy says … I always enjoyed the 7’s training sessions. Unlike the 15s sessions, the 7s sessions were more of action thatn talking. There was something new to learn from each session: new moves, skills, abilities, … (interesting). Based on fitness and speed I was confident that I would make it on the 14 (wo)man provisional squad but the position I was training for demamded for more than just that. Confidence and skills as a scrumhalf are very vital. Anyway, I took each day as it comes, so I patiently waited for the dreaded weekend of the world cup qualifiers.
We reported into camp (hotel equatoria) on Wednesday 17th September and all was good. I developed serious 'rugby cramps' (does such a thing exist?) on Thursday morning. I woke up at 5.30am and this huge cloud of rugby was driving me nuts. I could not go back to sleep so I dived on the couch until time for breakfast. I was so relieved after the morning training session when the 'rugby cramps' disappeared for good.
Friday 19th was high and fly for me. On Saturday 20th September, I felt like a winner already as I was confident. I substituted Helen in the game against Botswana and just after getting onto pitch I had to make a big tackle. Unfortunately as Christine came to ruck she collided with me and I got a nasty head knock. The earth made 2 revolutions per second instead of its usual 1 revolution in 366days. Day time stars danced in front of my eyes and I was unable to continue with the days games in that state.
Our final game on Saturday was against Tunisia. It is not everyday that a man shows emotion but as mutaks urged us to play our hearts out he unconsciously slid from the chair on which he was sitting until he ended up on his knees on the ground where he stayed until his speech was done. Then soggy said this prayer full of everything we could have thought of asking for from God at that particular moment. I felt so useless sitting on that bench because even when charlotte got concussed I could not be played. We lost 12 – 05 and mutaks was speechless. Soggy tried to tell girls to forget about the loss that our dream was still within reach. Rumour had it that we would play south Africa in the semifinal and although they were ranked number 1 in Africa I thought that they had not played anything more than ordinary rugby so I knew we could take them on. It would be either them or us. Tight stuff.
The silence and sadness in our camp made my mind go blank. When our semi final was confirmed, we were to meet Tunisia again, girls had to shake themselves out of their numb state. It seemed like an uphill task to beat a team that we had just lost to but girls slowly gained determination and the urge to correct their mistakes and have their revenge on the tunis. God could not have blessed the team more when he made those mutaks and soggy our coaches. If not for me and my country, I felt that it was up to me and the rest of the team to reward these guys by qualifying for the world cup. seriously I did not care much about the loss to Tunisia for I knew the decider was yet to come, be it S.A, Kenya or whoever. I had that much confidence in my teammates and I already felt like a winner so I said a silent prayer to God and asked Him for special blessings for our team. The coach’s condition had me more worried than the rival teams did. Mutaks could pace for miles and miles in a 5 metre space. To me his face said a desparate,’I don’t know what else to do.’ And it was only God and time that would revive him.
On Sunday, I was deemed fit enough to play although not a full game. I came on for harriet in the second half of the semifinal. When I made a big tackle on the Tunisia winger that had been causing problems the entire tournament, my soul said, ‘for mutaks & soggy, for charlotte and to dubai’. I did not care if the Tunisians hogged the ball the whole game as long as they never broke through our defence line. After the final whistle, I thanked God and the first people I hugged were charlotte, mutaks, soggy and then the rest followed. Of course a juicy hug for Helen: she played hardest and also taught me all the rugby I know.
Now we call ourselves ‘world cup material’ and it feels very good to have teammates to share the joy with. I am very proud to be part of the rugby lady cranes squad that qualified for the 2009 7’s world cup and at this point ‘sky is the limit! Come S.A, then Dubai, fly lady cranes!’
5 March 1984
Height: 5’3
Weight: 55kg
Prossy says … I always enjoyed the 7’s training sessions. Unlike the 15s sessions, the 7s sessions were more of action thatn talking. There was something new to learn from each session: new moves, skills, abilities, … (interesting). Based on fitness and speed I was confident that I would make it on the 14 (wo)man provisional squad but the position I was training for demamded for more than just that. Confidence and skills as a scrumhalf are very vital. Anyway, I took each day as it comes, so I patiently waited for the dreaded weekend of the world cup qualifiers.
We reported into camp (hotel equatoria) on Wednesday 17th September and all was good. I developed serious 'rugby cramps' (does such a thing exist?) on Thursday morning. I woke up at 5.30am and this huge cloud of rugby was driving me nuts. I could not go back to sleep so I dived on the couch until time for breakfast. I was so relieved after the morning training session when the 'rugby cramps' disappeared for good.
Friday 19th was high and fly for me. On Saturday 20th September, I felt like a winner already as I was confident. I substituted Helen in the game against Botswana and just after getting onto pitch I had to make a big tackle. Unfortunately as Christine came to ruck she collided with me and I got a nasty head knock. The earth made 2 revolutions per second instead of its usual 1 revolution in 366days. Day time stars danced in front of my eyes and I was unable to continue with the days games in that state.
Our final game on Saturday was against Tunisia. It is not everyday that a man shows emotion but as mutaks urged us to play our hearts out he unconsciously slid from the chair on which he was sitting until he ended up on his knees on the ground where he stayed until his speech was done. Then soggy said this prayer full of everything we could have thought of asking for from God at that particular moment. I felt so useless sitting on that bench because even when charlotte got concussed I could not be played. We lost 12 – 05 and mutaks was speechless. Soggy tried to tell girls to forget about the loss that our dream was still within reach. Rumour had it that we would play south Africa in the semifinal and although they were ranked number 1 in Africa I thought that they had not played anything more than ordinary rugby so I knew we could take them on. It would be either them or us. Tight stuff.
The silence and sadness in our camp made my mind go blank. When our semi final was confirmed, we were to meet Tunisia again, girls had to shake themselves out of their numb state. It seemed like an uphill task to beat a team that we had just lost to but girls slowly gained determination and the urge to correct their mistakes and have their revenge on the tunis. God could not have blessed the team more when he made those mutaks and soggy our coaches. If not for me and my country, I felt that it was up to me and the rest of the team to reward these guys by qualifying for the world cup. seriously I did not care much about the loss to Tunisia for I knew the decider was yet to come, be it S.A, Kenya or whoever. I had that much confidence in my teammates and I already felt like a winner so I said a silent prayer to God and asked Him for special blessings for our team. The coach’s condition had me more worried than the rival teams did. Mutaks could pace for miles and miles in a 5 metre space. To me his face said a desparate,’I don’t know what else to do.’ And it was only God and time that would revive him.
On Sunday, I was deemed fit enough to play although not a full game. I came on for harriet in the second half of the semifinal. When I made a big tackle on the Tunisia winger that had been causing problems the entire tournament, my soul said, ‘for mutaks & soggy, for charlotte and to dubai’. I did not care if the Tunisians hogged the ball the whole game as long as they never broke through our defence line. After the final whistle, I thanked God and the first people I hugged were charlotte, mutaks, soggy and then the rest followed. Of course a juicy hug for Helen: she played hardest and also taught me all the rugby I know.
Now we call ourselves ‘world cup material’ and it feels very good to have teammates to share the joy with. I am very proud to be part of the rugby lady cranes squad that qualified for the 2009 7’s world cup and at this point ‘sky is the limit! Come S.A, then Dubai, fly lady cranes!’
Fortunate Irankunda
Fortunate Irankunda
20 May 1983
Height: 5’2
Weight: 83.5kg
Fortunate says … it feels so good to be a national team player although it is not easy to be one. It was one Sunday after Elgon cup that I (face visible in picture) was informed by the UWRA chairperson that I was to join the national 7s team for training. To me it was strange because I was so sure that I could only play 15’s since I was benched in my club during the 7’s league because of my unfitness and laziness. I thought my club coach wanted me to join the 7’s national team training to improve on my fitness. To my surprise we trained the whole week without hearing any word from her. It bothered me as she is my role model: she inspires me, encourages me, picks me up when I am down all because she wants me to be a very good rugby player. This time round she did not "spoon feed" me but left me on my own to see whether I could stand on my own two feet. I did not want to disappoint so I kept pushing. 7’s rugby is very tough: there was too much running, hill work, steps at lugogo ooooooh it was not a joke. Pam and jero kept encouraging me to hang in there and that I would be able to make it. as I became more confident that I could be a good 7s players I was able to put in my all and things became a bit easier.
One of my greatest moments was when mutaks read out the last 14 and I was on that list. I felt really great and proud to be on it and started to see myself on that plane to dubai. I was blessed to make it to the final 12 woman squad and when you are blessed you carry those blessings everywhere. My rugby background also helped as the person I look up to and who "brought me up" in rugby made sure that I yielded good fruits.
In my mind, the days starting running so fast and we were fast forwarded to just before dubai. Friday was checking in at the airport, Saturday was going through immigration and having our passports stamped and the flight was on Sunday. The processing (i.e training) to get that final stamp was not easy but somehow i made it. But back to reality. We checked into hotel equatoria on Wednesday night and I think that’s when it hit most of us that we were representing Uganda and we stood a good chance of actually qualifying for the world cup.
Sunday 21st September after 3pm is a moment I will never forget. Jesus ashamed the devil and I felt so great and proud. I am sure that those who doubted that I would ever be a 7s player wished they were in my shoes. Too many people are used to getting things on a silver platter and forget that to get the best results one has to sweat. From residues to becoming world cup material is a wonderful feeling and I pray that God gives me the strength and energy to keep fit so that the journey to dubai becomes easier for me.
Great thanks to those who have worked tirelessly to make me the way I am i.e. my 7s coaches (david mutaka, soggy, dr Arthur kwizera), my team managers jero and pam, dr connie who worked on my injuries, my club mates (brenda and prossy), the entire 7’s squad (charlotte, aalliya, rose, winnie, christine, yogi, kyoita and kayonjo) and not forgetting my motherly role model & club coach – miss Helen buteme.
Irene Namapii, Chairperson of the Uganda Women’s Rugby Association
How Irene felt before, during and after the qualifiers ... A few months before the qualifiers, I felt that we deserved to qualify because of our no. 2 ranking after S.A in Africa. Our only real threat was Tunisia. 3-4 weeks to the qualifiers, I felt that our chances would no longer be dead sure if the training sessions were not regular and if we did not get financial backing. I was really worried especially about Tunisia as they had thorough preparation plans and the fact that Kenya had brought in their men's 7s experts. 2 weeks to the games, my confidence in the team returned as I watched their training sessions and saw girls putting their bodies on the line in games against Ugandan local men’s 2nd tier clubs. Alas, exactly one week before the event, in Jinja on the sunday, I saw my dreams collapse before me, when there was serious tension in the camp. Thankfully this was sorted out and the girls rallied together and my confidence in them was restored. During the tournament, we played well, but Tunisia and S.A worried me. I was really heartbroken when we failed to use our chances to score on Saturday afternoon and ended up losing to Tunisia. However, by saturday evening, after crying about their loss the girls pulled themselves together and promised to win the semifinal. I was then sure that we were going to qualify, especially after I learnt that we would meet Tunisia again. When we beat Tunisia, I was in a daze and was one of the fans that ran onto the pitch after the game dancing and hugging the players. even though I celebrated with the team and the fans, the excitement of qualifying hit me the next day and continued for the whole week. I’ve been celebrating the whole week and it will be hard to put my feet back on the ground.
Job well done lady cranes and the lady cranes management team.
Aalliya Adania
Aalliya Adania
24 April 1988
Height: 5’4
Weight: 68.5kg
Aalliya says ... On Friday I was so nervous that I could not sleep. My roommate (fortunate) slept early so I went to winnie’s room and we stayed up quite late chatting to calm our nerves. Unfortunately for me, winnie fell asleep in the middle of our conversation and her roommate (kayonjo) was already dreaming. I went back to my room but after several minutes of tossing and turning I got out of bed and walked up and down in the corridor outside our rooms. I eventually tired out and went back to winnie’s room and crawled underneath her blankets and went to sleep. I woke up again at about 4.00am and returned to my room. i switched on the tv and danced to keep my mind off rugby. strangely enough I had a really huge appetite at breakfast and my teammates could not believe the amount of food I had stacked on my plate.
By the time we got to the pitch on Saturday, I was ready for anything and was sure that God would guide us to victory. When prossy got injured against Botswana, I went on to substitute her and almost scored a try. That white line was right in front of me but someone held onto my shorts and I could not move forward however hard I pumped my legs. Christine was right behind me supporting so I popped the ball to her and she scored. It was a great moment for me.
We lost to Tunisia in our pool game and that pissed me off cause we no longer had a 100% chance of qualifying for the world cup. i thought we might meet south Africa in the semi final and in that case it was a 50 – 50 chance. Either one of us could win that game. When the organisers said that we would meet Tunisia again in the semi final, I started smelling the world cup because I knew there was no way that we would lose to Tunisia again. I slept at peace and woke up on Sunday feeling victorious.
The semi final was a tense encounter and it was even worse watching it from the bench. I (visible in picture) cried when the final whistle went and it was all too much for me. My teammates – helena, harriet, charlotte, brenda, yogi, christine, prossy, rose, mary and winnie – and of course myself are all heroines while mutaks and soggy are heroes.
Cheers lady cranes and the big one to God the Almighty.
24 April 1988
Height: 5’4
Weight: 68.5kg
Aalliya says ... On Friday I was so nervous that I could not sleep. My roommate (fortunate) slept early so I went to winnie’s room and we stayed up quite late chatting to calm our nerves. Unfortunately for me, winnie fell asleep in the middle of our conversation and her roommate (kayonjo) was already dreaming. I went back to my room but after several minutes of tossing and turning I got out of bed and walked up and down in the corridor outside our rooms. I eventually tired out and went back to winnie’s room and crawled underneath her blankets and went to sleep. I woke up again at about 4.00am and returned to my room. i switched on the tv and danced to keep my mind off rugby. strangely enough I had a really huge appetite at breakfast and my teammates could not believe the amount of food I had stacked on my plate.
By the time we got to the pitch on Saturday, I was ready for anything and was sure that God would guide us to victory. When prossy got injured against Botswana, I went on to substitute her and almost scored a try. That white line was right in front of me but someone held onto my shorts and I could not move forward however hard I pumped my legs. Christine was right behind me supporting so I popped the ball to her and she scored. It was a great moment for me.
We lost to Tunisia in our pool game and that pissed me off cause we no longer had a 100% chance of qualifying for the world cup. i thought we might meet south Africa in the semi final and in that case it was a 50 – 50 chance. Either one of us could win that game. When the organisers said that we would meet Tunisia again in the semi final, I started smelling the world cup because I knew there was no way that we would lose to Tunisia again. I slept at peace and woke up on Sunday feeling victorious.
The semi final was a tense encounter and it was even worse watching it from the bench. I (visible in picture) cried when the final whistle went and it was all too much for me. My teammates – helena, harriet, charlotte, brenda, yogi, christine, prossy, rose, mary and winnie – and of course myself are all heroines while mutaks and soggy are heroes.
Cheers lady cranes and the big one to God the Almighty.
feelings
before i close this blog, i'll post feelings of members of the world cup bound squad about the whole qualification process.
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