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
Monday, 13 October 2008
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.
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