Why are you laughing when the standard of the game I love is being lowered and disgraced?
The Current African Rugby 7’s champions and the 2007 African Rugby 15’s champions don’t get Independence Day medals but soccer players just qualify for the African Cup and lose the African Cup final in 1978 and they get medals. Life is not fair and I honestly believe that but I believe that it is time for a rugby player association and an independent rugby league run by the clubs. Don’t get me wrong, I do not need a rugby player association or an independent rugby league run by the clubs so that players start getting Independence Day medals but to improve their welfare and quality of Rugby in Uganda.
It’s time for Rugby players to advocate for medical insurance as this game is prone to life changing injuries that our beloved players suffer and have a burden to go through personally without the help of the Rugby Union. The renowned rugby star Justine Kimono suffered such an injury and had to meet the cost of treatment without any significant help from the Rugby Union. But believe me when he is fully recovered and manages to return to the form that he is destined to be then the National Team selectors and rugby union will expect him to turn up without any questions asked.
The national team players have arrears beyond mention that every time national duty comes around the corner pledges and promises are made to convince players to represent the country. Please note that the National Team is sponsored by Nile Special so how come funding is an issue. The current African 7’s champions only received 20,000shs for traveling, playing and winning the tournament held in Kenya. I wonder why players had to travel all those miles if their welfare was not catered for.
All this because there is no player association to air out player grievances and have them sorted out plus an independent rugby league run by the clubs to free up the Rugby Union so that it can concentrate on the Rugby Development, National teams for all genders and developing a rugby philosophy for this country. Without forgetting setting standards and continue its oversight role.
The Rugby Union is currently accused of bias and favoritism towards clubs affiliated to Kyandono Rugby Community because of its members (chairman) allegiance to Kyandondo by most rugby players. In the scenario where a national team coach is attached to a particular club it creates a conflict of interest despite the Coach’s high moral standards. So an independent rugby league run by the clubs would give all players and clubs stake in their tournament and provide more protection to the Referees who are seen as agents trying to promote the Union alleged bias agenda.
Anyone not new to online rugby news will know that Zeno Othieno Owora criticizes the Rugby Union on his face book pages. So forgive me when I am not surprised when the Rugby Union accused him of pouring alcohol on the Namibian team manager. I doubt that any rugby player/fan remembers when Uganda lost to Namibia. Why the delayed dispensation of justice to a visiting dignitary? Was it was intentional or just accidental? Please note that Zeno denies all allegations.
Natural Justice has it that all people must be given a chance to defend themselves so the Rugby Union decides to call Zeno for an impromptu disciplinary hearing without giving the player time to prepare his defense. Zeno categorically tells the Rugby Union official to follow protocol and summon him through his club (Mutoni Warriors) as he needs legal counsel that is provided by the club and he has no personal relationship with the union except with his Rugby Club.
The Rugby Union Disciplinary Committee arrogantly sat without considering the request by the player plus his defense and decided to suspend him for twenty four (24) months a period longer than people that beat match officials Ivan Magomu banned for one year and Alex Mubiru six (6) month concerned.
The Rugby Union then writes a letter to Mutoni Warriors informing them that their player has been banned and delivers the letter to the team captain as the team is set to run onto the pitch. The team captain informs the Rugby Official that his club Mutoni Warriors was not aware of any players due for disciplinary action and requests the union official to use official channels of communication as the team for the game was set and ready to run onto the pitch.
The team then takes to the rugby pitch ready to face the defending champions Heathens. The referee comes to the pitch full of thirty rugby thirsty players and says that he has been ordered not to play on if the player (Zeno) is on pitch. The Mutoni Warriors team stands its ground and says that their star player has no pending disciplinary issues with the Rugby Union and cannot leave the pitch in order to give the opponents an unfair advantage. The Referee then blows that Heathens have been awarded a walk over.
Please note that the weekend Uganda Cup semi-final game between Pirates and Imps did not have touch judges whereas the touch judge for the Uganda Cup semi-final game between Kobs and Rhinos commonly called Mr. Anguyo breached the dress code for rugby by wearing shorts described as inappropriate according to the rules of the game. All this would have been solved if the players had an association to sort out these discrepancies without seeming like they are stepping on any toes and the Rugby Union enforcing standards of the game.
With an independently rugby league run by the clubs the league and Uganda cup will be able to get sponsors and not assume that by Nile Special sponsoring the National Team they sponsor the National League or Uganda Cup. Clubs need prize money and not the once in a while crates of beer provided after begging. Many sponsors within the same industry as Nile Special are willing to sponsor the league but the Union makes it look like Nile special sponsors these tournaments already.
History will judge us whether we spoke out or buried our heads in the ground like an ostrich when our beloved game declined and lost its standards. So I ask, why are you laughing when the standard of the game I love is being lowered and disgraced?
