As the Rugby Cranes are set to face Kenya’s Simbas in the second leg of the 2024 Elgon Cup this Saturday, 16th November, at Kings Park Arena in Bweyogerere, victory is their sole focus.
Speaking to the media Wednesday, 13 November 2024, Isaac Lutwama, CEO of the Uganda Rugby Union, expressed optimism about the Cranes’ chances, despite the short turnaround time between the fixtures.
“We are hoping that with such a quick turnaround, the Cranes will be able to put together the kind of game that will give them victory,” Lutwama stated.
The fixture is seen as a crucial opportunity for Uganda to bounce back after a narrow 27-25 loss in the first leg held at RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, according to Lutwama.
He highlighted the importance of this match for Uganda’s world rankings.
“We were ranked 36 with Kenya at 37. With the two-point loss, we hope it won’t affect our ranking, but we will firm up our ranking if we get a good win on Saturday.” Lutwama noted.
Captain of the Rugby Cranes, Byron Oketayot, shared insights into the team’s preparation.
“The preparation is going well; of course, we will have one or two changes,” Oketayot remarked.
The team has been thoroughly analyzing footage from the first leg, and we shall plan accordingly.
“Based on the results we achieved in Nairobi, we shall watch videos in one of our training sessions and plan accordingly,” he explained.
The stakes are high for the Cranes, who are looking to clinch their fourth Elgon Cup title.
“It’s a do-or-die situation for us to win it for the fourth time,” Lutwama emphasized. The Cranes are determined to close the gap, with Kenya having won the Cup 14 times to date.
The clash, referred to as the Victoria Cup, will be broadcast live on NBS Sport, and kickoff at 4 p.m. was revealed by Victor Akatwijuka, Brand Manager at NBS Sport, earlier this week.
“We are thrilled to bring the return leg of the Elgon Cup between the Uganda Cranes and Kenya Simbas to our viewers live. This is just the beginning. In partnership with the Uganda Rugby Union,” Victor said.
