The Avengers rugby club of Entebbe did not exert themselves as much during the seventh and final circuit of the national Nile Special Sevens rugby championship in October last year, that was held at King’s Park, Bweyogerere.
They had already done enough in the previous ones, winning four of the six. This meant that a quarterfinal placing in the seventh circuit sufficed, to ensure that they were the undisputed women’s sevens champions 2024.
However, at best, they have been average in the ongoing (since January) Nile Special rugby premiership, the 15s version of the game. And as they host the seeming champions-elect, Black Pearls in Entebbe this weekend, 13 points behind them on the table, questions linger on; what exactly has gone wrong?
After five games, the Avengers have registered only two wins, losing twice and drawing once. Perhaps, the draw was the one intriguing thing about the Avengers’ season thus far, considering that it happened last weekend against the Ewes, a Makerere team that is second from bottom in the seven-team league.
It was a 5-5 draw. Clearly, the two sides were so bad that they could only manage a try each over the 80 minutes of play. In fact, Fazirah Namukwaya, a player with the Avengers, who starred during the sevens last year, to a point that she even earned a national team call-up, could not hide how shameful the result last weekend was.
Namukwaya said: “While it is normal for teams to struggle, our performances have been bad. Of course 15s and 7s rugby are so different, as the dynamics and requirements to succeed in either vary significantly. But as players, some of us have not shown the needed commitment to succeed.”
On the opening day of the season, because of how well the Avengers had been performing a few months, a lot was hyped up in the build-up to their game against the Thunderbirds at Kyadondo. Inevitably, a team that possesses the national team captain, Peace Lekuru, among others, would give the fans of rugby a good game go- ing up against the likes of Samiya Ayikoru, Patricia Anek and Janat Nandudu at least.
But as it turned out, the Avengers were a no-show, losing 0-36. Worse still, this is a result that flattered the Entebbe team. It could have been 0-80. But first and foremost, Lekuru did not play, as did a few others. And this is where Avengers’ problems start – the lack of a complete team.
Michelle Kampire, the Avengers’ team manager, said they have struggled to have a full team, especially with some of their stars being in the national 7s team set-up, which has been preparing for the HSBC Challenger Series, which begin in this weekend in Cape Town, South Africa.
In addition, observers say that while the 7s team needs just 12 players to be complete, the 15s need a total of 23. Yet, the Avengers have laboured to raise a full team during training. Apparently, some sessions have just 10 players, which has led to their disjointed displays.
Without players training consistently, even their fitness across the field has been wanting, leaving them vulnerable, and there for the taking. Inevitably, this weekend should prove a good work-out for the visitors, the Black Pearls, as the Avengers are unlikely to pause a challenge to their stroll to another crowning!
Rugby fixtures
Saturday, March 1@2pm:
Avengers v Black Pearls-Entebbe
Nile Rapids v She Wolves-Dam Waters
V. Sharks v Elgon Wolves -Kyadondo
Saturday, March 1@4pm:
Heathens v Buffaloes-Kyadondo
Walukuba v Rhinos- Jinja
Mongers v Kobs-Entebbe
Eagles v Jinja Hippos-Kitante
Warriors v Pirates -Legends
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