Lady Cranes flight path to the IRB 7s World Cup

Uganda Lady Cranes is on facebook

2011-07-28T23:14:00.002+03:00

Catch up with us on our facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/216904778327217/?ap=1 and on our page www.facebook.com/pages/Uganda-Lady-Cranes/113777472039318

However the first one (the group www.facebook.com/groups/216904778327217/?ap=1) is more active and updated more regularly though.

Some pictures of the opening ceremony and closing dinner

2009-04-19T18:26:00.005+03:00

First 2 pictures are performances at the opening ceremony.

Last 2 pictures are of Lady Cranes players (in black and yellow) with players from various men's and women's teams at the closing dinner.

Some pictures of us on board Emirates

2009-04-19T18:03:00.004+03:00

First picture: me (Helen)

Second picture: Jero and I (Helen) cutting our cake from the Emirates crew

Third picture: Charlotte, Agnes, Prossy

Fourth picture: Brenda

Some Lady Cranes pictures from Dubai

2009-04-17T09:39:00.007+03:00

First picture is of Prossy after we threw her into the Atlantis pool: it was her 25th birthday.

Second picture is us at the opening ceremony. top from left: Racheal, Harriet, Charlotte, Aalliya, Winnie. bottom from left: Christine, Helen.

Third picture is Dr Connie, Jaki and Charlotte.

Fourth picture is us on day 2. top from left: Agnes, Aalliya, Rosenburg, Harriet. bottom from left: Charlotte, Racheal, Helen, Winnie, Christine, Prossy, Justine.

The end

2009-03-09T13:54:00.003+03:00

Our journey has finally come to an end so I can get my social life back … for now.

This is my last post. Thank you for following us on our flight to the world cup. It has been an eventful trip and it was all worth it.

I have not yet uploaded pictures from the world cup but I will do that as soon as I get hold of them - most likely next week.

Cheers.

Support

2009-03-09T13:52:00.002+03:00

We eventually got government support (i guess that it was better late than never but government really should have stepped in much earlier). The Minister of Education of Sports travelled to Dubai and gave us a pep talk at the beginning of the tournament. He was also on hand to cheer us on during our games. We each got a small monetary reward ($100 to be exact) from the government for having represented Uganda at the world cup. As much as we appreciate the support (albeit delayed) from the government it was only a drop in the ocean: it would be great if the government started to support women’s rugby (and other minority sports) especially when they are on duty for the country.

It’s amazing how much support we drummed up and it really boosted the team. We met lots of people in Dubai who did not know that Ugandans played rugby and others still who did not know where to find Uganda on the world map. Nevertheless they were excited to see us play and supported us from our first game up until our last. It is hard to find words that can capture our appreciation for all the support we got but I will try.

Thank you everyone who supported us and wished us well: your messages of support kept us going. To those who shouted themselves hoarse from the side and those who came to talk to us after our games – you helped us keep our heads up. ICEMARK – a huge thank you for your sponsorship: you really pulled out all the stops for us. Without the support of ICEMARK women's rugby in Uganda would not have developed to where it is now. Thanks also to the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) and the Uganda Women’s Rugby Association (UWRA) for all your tireless efforts to make sure things went smoothly. To the Lady Cranes 7’s management team and all the Lady Cranes players you gave your all and I thank you for that. We went, we played and we were conquered but we have not been humbled and we will fight back. We have 4 years to prepare …

Lessons learned

2009-03-09T13:48:00.000+03:00

There is no substitute for experience. We needed to have had build up tournaments before we travelled to Dubai in order to get a feel of other teams, to develop mental toughness and to sort out anything that did not look right. During the world cup, we got feedback from various parties (spectators, coaches & players from other teams) and they all said that we should have won against Italy and Brazil. Against South Africa we were handling them well but let ourselves down with unnecessary errors that the South Africans capitalised on. On the positive side they said that we were a good team and we played better rugby than they had expected but we need to play more games against top sides to get exposure and build confidence. That is the only way that we can develop.

We had set a high target for ourselves (a top 8 finish) which we did not achieve. How do we feel ? Disappointed. Yes, we have come further than any other Ugandan sport but we had hoped to make a bigger impact and we know we could have performed better. However, all is not lost: we have learned valuable lessons and will use this experience to improve our women’s rugby in Uganda. In all, this world cup was a learning curve (a very steep one at that) for us all and we come away knowing that we played against the best and it is possible for us to perform better than we did this time around.

Brazil

2009-03-09T13:19:00.000+03:00

This was the bowl quarter finals and our last chance. I sat and watched the Lady Cranes versus Brazil game from the bench as I had injured my knee as well as twisted my ankle during Friday's games. Once again we lost a game that we should have won. It was tough going as we played almost half the game with 6 people. In the first half Christine Kiziti got a yellow card for a high tackle and in the second half Brenda Kayiyi twisted her knee and had to come off. We had used up all our subs so had to finish the remainder of the game (3 minutes) with 6 players. Brazil scored one try in each half while Justine Bayigga scored a try and Racheal Kakaire added the extras such that the final score was 12 – 07.

Italy

2009-03-07T06:49:00.003+03:00

The game against Italy was our easiest game but we did not seem to get our rhythm the way we had against South Africa. We became careless in defence and conceded 2 tries while our attack was rather desparate. We scored a try through Justine Bayigga that was converted by Racheal Kakaire but although we put the Italians under pressure the all important try did not materialise. We lost 12 - 07 and booked a date with Brazil (number 3 from pool C) in the bowl quarters.

That's how our day will start today. Wish us luck.

Cheerio.

South Africa

2009-03-07T06:45:00.002+03:00

We played South Africa on pitch 1. The crowd was really huge and amazingly it was supporting us. I think that was the most painful game we have ever played. We played so well and dominated possession in the first 5 minutes but we were somehow unable to score. We were playing good rugby but the South Africans capitalised on our errors and scored 4 tries: the final score was 26 - 00. Losing that game was devastating. We could have won it but we did not. I think that was the worst moment of my rugby life. Having lost 2 games we were now out of contention for the top 8.

New Zealand

2009-03-07T06:40:00.002+03:00

We started off our world cup campaign against New Zealandon on pitch 2. A small contingent of Ugandan fans was there to cheer us on.

The Black Ferns are really experienced and it showed. They had an answer for everything we threw at them and they played with such ease and although we defended our hearts out they still scored try after try against us. The final score was 50 - 00. It was the toughest game we had ever played. Although we lost heavily we learned so much from that game both from our mistakes and from how the Black Ferns played. It was a great experience playing New Zealand and we are glad that we were in their pool.

Build up games

2009-03-06T07:32:00.002+03:00

We had two build up games that have boosted our confidence.

We played two games of touch rugby against Brazil (number 1 in South America) on Tuesday. We would have preferred full contact but they were going to the play the USA in the afternooon and did not want to tire themselves. However they were gracious enough to agree to touch rugby. We played two games: each game had 2 halves of 7 minutes. We drew both games 0 - 0.

We played Spain (number 4 in Europe) on Wednesday. It was full contact and a game of three minute halves. We won by 3 tries to 2 with Harriet Kayonjo, myself (Helen) and Justine Bayigga crossing the line. Racheal Kakaire converted all the tries.

Our games start today (Friday) with New Zealand at 11.28 Ugandan time.

I'll give more details of our stay in Dubai after the world cup. For now I'll just be bringing very brief updates whenever I get the chance.

Keep on supporting us.

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!

catching up - in Dubai

2009-03-04T11:37:00.004+03:00

Ok, so we land in Dubai in the wee hours of monday morning, tired and sleepy but upbeat all the same. However, by the time we picked up our luggage and got through immigration all we wanted to do was sleep. We got to Atlantis (the 5 star plus hotel all the teams are staying in) at about 3am and finally got to sleep at around 4am. We were up at 8.00am as we had a training session at 11am at one of the warm up pitches at The Sevens (the tournament venue) and it takes about 1 hour to drive there. We did a lot of running and stretching as lack of sleep was making it hard for us to coordinate. Then again there was the wind: it was really really strong. Sometimes the person next to Charlotte would have to hold her down because the wind keep dragging her away - not a nice way to lose a player.

Atlantis is really huge: the fact that it can accommodate 40 teams speaks for itself and we keep getting lost. After breakfast on tuesday, I led the entire team down several corridors to a dead end. Half the Brazilian team had followed us as well. We shared a laugh with them about it as we tried to find the right way. Ha ha. The blind leading the blind. We've spotted all the teams except the Italians. New Zealand is actually on the same floor as us. They seem a pretty friendly bunch with a smile and hello when we meet in the corridors.

I went to the IRB welcome party and captains' photo shoot last night (tuesday night) together with Mutaks and Jero as well as our liaison, David. We found a place to sit and after a couple of minutes I realised that we were sitting next to DJ Forbes (New Zealand men 7's captain), Zar Lawrence and Lote Raikabula. I introduced myself and asked if they minded taking a picture with me and they were really cool about it (I will post that picture later). They asked me for my autograph afterwards but neither of us had a pen ...

2 days to go before we finally get into action. I can't wait.

catching up - in Uganda

2009-03-04T11:05:00.005+03:00

Sorry, it's been a while since I have written. Just too many things going on. I'll start with our camp and work my way up to this moment.

We said our goodbyes on Friday morning then went into camp in Entebbe. We did not do anything hectic. Just going through moves and some running to make sure we maintained our fitness levels. We went to the beach on Saturday night and to the Uganda Wildlife Centre (zoo) on Sunday morning. It was embarrassing how little people know about our country's animals. Girls were calling monitor lizards squirrels and then there was a heated argument over whether a Ugandan bok was a donkey or horse. Really, ladies!!! Even if you have never seen a donkey or a horse before everyone knows that they do NOT have horns!!!

On Sunday at midday, the Minister for Education and Sports came to hotel to hand over the Ugandan flag and to send us off. It was a pretty low key affair but that's what we had expected anyway. We got to the airport and that was where we got a really pleasant surprise. We checked in and as we prepared to go to immigration we were told that Emirates had bumped us up from economy class to business class. Awesome. We got to travel in style. What a nice way to start our journey. We left Entebbe airport at 4.30pm and stopped for one hour in Addis Ababa. From there it was Dubai direct. Before we landed the Emirates cabin crew presented us with a cake for good luck. That was really sweet (both them and the cake). We landed in Dubai at 12.30am. Ok, this is it.

Breaking news – Lady Cranes go into last camp

2009-02-26T14:15:00.000+03:00

The Lady Cranes will go to Entebbe tomorrow (Friday) for their last camp before flying to Dubai. The ICEMARK sponsored ladies are set to depart on Sunday at 4.20pm aboard Emirates. They will land in Dubai on Monday at 12.30am.

The world cup bound team

Racheal Kakaire Babirye (Thunderbirds – Vice captain)
Helen Koyokoyo Buteme (Black Panthers – Captain)
Rosenburg Dinah Kanyunyuzi (Thunderbirds)
Prossy Pearce Nakakande (Black Panthers)
Winnie Alexanda Atyang (Thunderbirds)
Charlotte Thereza Mudoola (Rangers)
Brenda Violet Kayiyi (Black Panthers)
Agnes Nantongo (Thunderbirds)
Harriet Kayonjo (Thunderbirds)
Aalliya Irene Adania (Rangers)
Christine Kizito (Thunderbirds)
Justine Bayigga (N/A)
Head of delegation: Dr Irene Namapii
Head Coach: David Mutaka
Assistant coach: Robert Sseguya
Team manager: Jeroline Akubu
Assistant team manager: Jackie Kigozi
Team doctor: Dr Connie Olwit

I will try to keep blogging regularly to keep you all updated but forgive me if I lapse in my updates. Please click on the link ‘post a comment’ to send us messages of support. Don’t worry that the text colour is the same as the background (I can’t figure out how to change it) but I’ve got a way to read the comments so your efforts will not be wasted. Alternatively you can email us at ladycranesevens@gmail.com

Dr Irene Namapii

2009-02-22T11:17:00.006+03:00

Name: Irene Namapii
Nickname: Great Leader
Occupation: Veterinary doctor/Sales Manager
Date of birth: 04/05/1971
Role: Uganda Women’s Rugby Association (UWRA) Chairperson
How did you get involved in rugby? My 2 brothers had played rugby, my sister and her friends were playing rugby, I was working out at a rugby club and some of the ladies moved on to play rugby. There was no way I could escape getting involved.

Best rugby moment as a rugby administrator: When the Lady Cranes qualified for the 2009 WRWC 7s and ICEMARK announcing that they would continue to sponsor the ladies up to World Cup.

Worst rugby moment as a rugby administrator: When we were unable to raise money for Lady Cranes to go and play in South Africa and yet the girls had been training so hard.

How do you feel about going for the World Cup? Ecstatic! I’m dreaming about bringing the trophy home.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? Uganda is going to surprise the world. You will see us in the semi-finals. Watch this space.

Dr Irene Namapii sits on the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) executive committee as the women’s rugby representative. She also plays for Black Panthers rugby club and dreams of playing for the nation some day: she believes it is never too late. Irene’s younger sister, Helen Buteme, is on the world cup squad to Dubai.

Dr Connie Olwit

2009-02-22T11:17:00.005+03:00

Name: Connie Olwit
Occupation: Medical Doctor
Date of birth: 25/10/1983

Dr Connie loves rugby but she never got a chance to play it so she decided to become a ‘rugby’ doctor. While still a medical student at Makerere University she joined the Uganda Rugby Medical Society (URMS) attached herself to Impis – the university rugby team – where she alternated between dancing on the sidelines cheering her team on and taking care of the player’s injuries. Last year, URMS assigned Dr Connie to the Lady Cranes’ and she thought that her work had become easier. However, she was surprised to discover that there is no difference in the injuries between male and female rugby players and that women rugby players are just as pig headed as male rugby players. During the Lady Cranes’ training sessions Dr Connie devotes her time to dragging protesting injured players off the pitch and taping their ankles together so that they cannot move. Dr Connie wishes that she had more time on her hands so that she could do weight training to make her task of handling the players a lot easier.

Jackie Kigozi

2009-02-22T11:16:00.003+03:00

Name: Jackie Kigozi
Nickname: Sister
How did you get involved in rugby? It was a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time i.e. I happened to be keeping fit at a rugby pitch when volunteers for women’s rugby were needed at the time – thereafter forever involved.

Best rugby moment as a team manager: The many wins the Lady Cranes have had over the years but the sweetest being our WRWC qualifiers win against a hostile Tunisian team.

Worst rugby moment as a team manager: comes with the territory of dealing with women.

How do you feel about going for the World Cup? It is a moment of truth – I am plagued with so many mixed emotions but I believe the ladies have put in their all and will play their game the best way that they know how.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? I believe the ladies are as ready as can be and will play their hearts out – just watch and support them.

Jacki Kigozi is a motherly yet at the same time a no nonsense woman who is always keen to get involved. One training session she volunteered to hold a ruck pad as the players went through contact drills. A player charged into her sending her flying about 2 metres backwards and Jackie hurt herself when she landed. Luckily it was not a major injury but since then Jackie has enrolled in a gym for weight training … just in case her services are ever needed again.

Jeroline Akubu

2009-02-22T11:15:00.003+03:00

Name: Jeroline Akubu
Nickname: Jero
Occupation: Lawyer
Date of birth: 28/04/1975
How did you get involved in rugby? A friend I used to work out with wanted to join rugby but she was scared to go alone so I went along with her and got hooked. Rugby is a game with the most fun players and fans. It allows one to live on the edge (otherwise one is taking up too much space).

Best rugby moment as a team manager: When the Lady Cranes qualified for the world cup.

Worst rugby moment as a team manager: When Charlotte Mudoola got a concussion during the pool game against Tunisia and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. That hurt because she had put so much into rugby and had never missed a training session despite being in her final year of law school.

How do you feel about going for the World Cup? Like hard work actually pays, then you have to pay some more.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? As good as any team.

Jeroline Akubu actually played rugby at some point in her life – that was before she grew her nails. While in South Africa, her coach had a problem on where to field her: she was (still is) big, fast and tall so she played lock, winger and fullback. Her worst moment as a player was when she sprained her ankle just before the Brown University tour to Uganda so she could not play for her then club, Thunderbirds.

Robert Sseguya

2009-02-22T11:14:00.001+03:00

Name: Robert Sseguya
Nickname: Soggy
Occupation: EHS Officer
Date of birth: 17/08/1978
Role: Assistant coach
How did you get involved in coaching women’s rugby? It’s about five years down the road when a group of girls lead by Helen Buteme approached me to coach them as they had formed a new ladies rugby team but it lacked a coach, so from then I have not looked back.

Best rugby moment as a coach: When I saw my team defeat Tunisia in a do or die qualifier game after losing to them the day before.

Worst rugby moment as a coach: When I could not field my best team for the world cup qualifiers due to injuries and indiscipline amongst players.

How do you feel about going for the World Cup? It doesn’t happen always and not every one can have a chance to represent his/her country at this level! It’s a blessing.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? Top 8 finish.

Robert Sseguya has represented Uganda in both the 7 aside and 15 aside codes of the game (actually he still does). He has won numerous MVP awards and in 2007 he captained the African Leopards team (a team comprising the best 15 aside players from all over Africa – with the exception of South Africa). As a coach, Soggy is a hard task master and he insists that he does not coach women – he coaches rugby players. He believes that rugby is safely played by both sexes and its inclusion in the Olympic games is long over due.

David Mutaka

2009-02-22T11:13:00.001+03:00

Name: David Mutaka
Nickname: Mutaks
Occupation: Banking
Date of birth: 31 March 1977
Role: Head Coach
How did you get involved in coaching women’s rugby? Last year I got a call from the chairperson UWRA who is a very convincing lady and she also threw in a free trip to South Africa for coaching. In South Africa, I met the South African Trainers Denver Wannies and Norman Mbiko who made coaching look so easy and glamorous. I am learning different :)

Best rugby moment as a coach: Thus far the win against Tunisia in the semis of the world cup qualifiers. Not many people gave us a chance, I think especially after day one results, but my girls did me proud. It still hasn’t quite sunk in although I expected it. More so that some of the girls that started rugby in Uganda have lived to see their dream come to pass - from touch playing freaks to world beaters.

Worst rugby moment as a coach: Watching the girls cry after the loss to Tunisia in the pool stages on day one of the qualifiers.

How do you feel about going for the World Cup? Beyond words, but overall I am proud of my team. I believe we deserve to be there.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? Nothing outside the top 8.

David Mutaka has represented Uganda in both the 7 aside and 15 aside codes of the game. Mutaks had never wanted to coach as he felt it was a time consuming/brain sapping role and that you age very fast on the sideline. However, since taking up the Lady Cranes 7’s coaching mantle, he believes that his decision to go against his better judgement has paid off 100 fold and he now enjoys coaching. That however has not stopped him of dreaming of returning to active rugby playing and going to the world cup as a player.

Ranting and raving

2009-02-22T11:11:00.002+03:00

This is rather off topic but I must or I will bust. We leave for Dubai in about 2 weeks and our government is yet to acknowledge us. What!? Surely not! Oh, yes. We are still waiting for the government to appreciate our feat but we are not holding our breaths: if we do, we may suffocate. Our national football team won a small regional trophy the other day (CECAFA cup) and they got 30 million Uganda shillings from the MPs as well as an invite for a state dinner. We qualified for the world cup and we got … nothing. Government has not even stepped in to sponsor us for the world cup. Not a shilling has come our way. Ok, I know rugby is not a mainstream sport, it is not as popular as football and to make matters worse we are women but surely we deserve better? We are extremely fortunate that we have ICEMARK: without their sponsorship we would not have been able to accomplish even half of what we have done so far. Kudos to you ICEMARK and for all those who have supported and/or are supporting us in one way or another – THANK YOU!

The next posts are the profiles of our management team.

Wide

2009-02-22T11:10:00.001+03:00

I was really chuffed when one of my friends whom I had not seen for a couple of months exclaimed when he saw me, ‘Helen, what’s up? You look wider! You’re still small but you take up more space. Have you been mugging?’ (Mugging is Ugandan slang for weight lifting). I literally danced for joy. It’s been four months since I started my weight training and I have come a long way. I still do not like the gym (sorry coach Shao I have nothing against you personally but I hate the gym). I consider it a necessary evil but it has done wonders for me. Since the beginning of last year I have been struggling to gain weight - I weighed 51.5kgs then - and I set my end target at 60kgs. I hit 60kgs this month and no one can call me scrawny anymore. And the great thing is that I carry my weight comfortably although at first I found it hard going. Charlotte and Prossy are really pissed off because they have always been heavier than me but now I am ahead. They claim I rigged the weighing scale (ha ha ha – the truth hurts). I think all this is really funny. All over the world women punish themselves by missing out on meals, denying themselves chocolates, ice cream, wine etc, and other such schemes in a bid to lose weight (by the way I consider that worse torture than going to the gym – I love my food, chocs …). And here we are eating at least 4 meals a day and pumping that iron to become bigger and heavier. No wonder Ugandans say that women who play rugby are weird.

Week 7 – Milestones

2009-02-22T11:02:00.003+03:00

It has been a quiet week. Monday and Wednesday were pretty chilled out sessions. Tuesday’s gym session with Soggy was really tough and Friday’s pitch session was even worse. Soggy and Mutaks said it was the last week of hard work. Next week will be light. I look at my team mates and cannot believe how far we have all come. Milestones were reached, the most obvious being making the team, then others such as Joan finally weighing over 50kgs and me growing my hair (no I do not have curls, I have gone for dreadlocks), Justine getting used to a mouthguard/gumshield and so on. This has been one long flight and I cannot wait for it to land.

Winnie Alexanda Atyang

2009-02-16T12:36:00.001+03:00

Name: Winnie Alexanda Atyang
Nickname: Time
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: 27/09/1985
Home district: Lira
Club: Thunderbirds
Height: 5’7
Weight: 75.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Prop, centre
Rugby experience: 5 years
7’s Debut: Kampala CAR 7's '06
Number of 7’s tournaments: 5
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 6
How did you first get into rugby? My little brother used to play tag rugby so I picked interest in the game.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Brain Tabaruka (MTN Heathens and ex-Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): Lote Tuqiri

Rugby awards won: Runner up 2006 & 2007 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up 2007 Tunis 7s, Runner up WRWC qualifiers, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Best rugby moment: When we beat Tunisia last year to qualify for the World Cup

Worst rugby moment: Losing to South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Bay 7s in South Africa. It was the largest loss we had ever suffered.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It feels good. Going for the world cup has always been my dream and I am very proud to play for my country. I am psyched up and more than ready to meet any team.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We have all it takes to be world champions. I think we can bring home the trophy.

Other than rugby WInnie Atyang also plays basketball and football but her aggression is better suited to the fantastic sport of rugby. She would like the world to know that she is a true African with a winning attitude. Victory is the only thing that she always wants.

Racheal Kakaire Babirye

2009-02-16T12:35:00.007+03:00

Name: Racheal Kakaire Babirye
Nickname: Kaka
Occupation: Costings Officer
Date of birth: 25/01/1984
Home district: Iganga
Club: Thunderbirds
Height: 5’4
Weight: 61.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Flyhalf, centre, winger
Rugby experience: 5 years
7’s Debut: Kampala CAR 7's '06
Number of 7’s tournaments: 4
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 6
How did you first get into rugby? I accidentally watched a rugby game one day and loved the way one player ran and tackled another: the next day I looked for a rugby club.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Michael Wokorach (MTN Heathens) & Allan Musoke (UTL Kobs & Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): William Ryder, Percy Montgomery & Dan Carter

Rugby awards won: 2004 Kyadondo 7’s MVP, 2004 Thunderbirds Most Improved Player, October 2004 Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) personality of the month, 2005 Thunderbirds Highest points scorer, 2006 Uganda Rugby Union (URU) player of the year, Runner up 2006 & 2007 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up 2007 Tunis 7s, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s.

Best rugby moment: Watching the Lady Cranes qualifying for the World Cup.

Worst rugby moment: Losing to South Africa in the final of the 2007 CAR 7’s.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It’s a dream come true. It will be the greatest experience of my life and a great opportunity to be seen by the world.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? Work with the team and also take initiatives whenever there’s a chance. Attack madly and defend madly, tackle hard, look for gaps and run with all my strength.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? Our chances are great. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Other interests/talents: I like reading novels and watching movies. I also play soccer.

Racheal Kakaire missed the qualifiers through an ankle injury but recovered to make it back onto the Lady Cranes squad for Dubai. Racheal has represented Uganda in football and her footballing skills come in handy as she can hoof the ball from one 22 to the other quite effortlessly. Racheal cherishes honesty, loves making friends and enjoys dancing in her free time.

Rosenburg Dinah Kanyunyuzi

2009-02-16T12:35:00.006+03:00

Name: Rosenburg Dinah Kanyunyuzi
Nickname: Rose
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: 26/01/1984
Home district: Fort Portal
Club: Thunderbirds
Height: 5’2
Weight: 65kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Hooker, scrumhalf
Rugby experience: 6 years
7’s Debut: WRWC 7's qualifiers '08
Number of 7’s tournaments: 2
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 6
How did you first get into rugby? I played soccer in high school and a team mate told me about it. I wanted to find out what she was on about so I gave it a shot after high school. Trust me I never want to go back to playing soccer.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Robert Sseguya (MTN Heathens & Uganda), Edmond Tumsusiime (UTL Kobs & Uganda), Allan Musoke (UTL Kobs & Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): John Smit

Rugby awards won: 2005 Thunderbirds most improved player, 2008 Thunderbirds best back, Runner up WRWC qualifiers, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Best rugby moment: Qualifying for the 7s World Cup after defeating Tunisia

Worst rugby moment: Losing to Kenya in the return leg of the Elgon Cup in 2008 (15’s rugby)

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? I feel great and privileged to represent my country. I feel lucky to be part of sports history in our country.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To play my best and let the world know that we have what it takes.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We are capable of anything: even winning the main cup.

Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi laughter dominates the Lady Cranes’ training sessions and is always in a state of happiness. She loves rugby but is intent on somehow retaining her curves. The former football player turned rugby player coaches both tag rugby and contact rugby to under 14 boys. Away from rugby, she loves watching movies and dancing but sleeping is right at the top of her favourite relaxation activities.

Prossy Pearce Nakakande

2009-02-16T12:33:00.001+03:00

Name: Prossy Pearce Nakakande
Occupation: Plant engineer
Date of birth: 05/03/1984
Home district: Wakiso
Club: Black Panthers
Height: 5’3
Weight: 57.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Hooker, scrumhalf
Rugby experience: 3 years
7’s Debut: WRWC 7's qualifiers '08
Number of 7’s tournaments: 2
15’s debut: versus Kenya May '08
Number of 15’s caps: 2
How did you first get into rugby? I was the General Secretary of Kyambogo University Games Union and responsible for the welfare of sports players so I got to know the University’s rugby players. They pulled me from football and basketball and introduced me to Helen Buteme.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Edmond Tumusiime (UTL Kobs & Uganda), Helen Buteme (Black Panthers & Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): Serevi

Rugby awards won: 2008 Black Panthers 7s MVP, Runners up WRWC qualifiers, Runners up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Best rugby moment: Winning the 2008 7’s league much to everyone’s disbelief and qualifying for the World Cup.

Worst rugby moment: When I collided with a new player during club training and one of my teeth penetrated the upper lip. It was very painful.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It’s a great honour. There are many who would like to be in my place but they are not. I feel so ready to take on the world. I look at my team mates working out and I think ‘Yah, let’s do it.’

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? I will do what I do best i.e. defending that try line so that scoring against the Lady Cranes becomes next to impossible. I also hope to score some points for Lady Cranes.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We are good and ready and I think we are bound to shock and impress.

Prossy Nakakande played baseball throughout high school up until university before she switched to rugby. She loves athletics and Michael Johnson was her inspiration. When the world seems to moving too fast or when she is confused to turns to her parents and siblings for help. When she is really pissed off she eats chips with very hot chilli to calm her down (how does that work!?) Prossy loves watching movies and dancing in her spare time.

Justine Bayigga

2009-02-16T12:32:00.002+03:00

Name: Justine Bayigga
Nickname: Msitunya
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: 15/01/1979
Home district: Kayunga
Club: N/A
Height: 5’5
Weight: 56.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: winger
Rugby experience: 4 months
7’s Debut: Mandela Bay 7's '08
Number of 7’s tournaments: 1
15’s debut: N/A
Number of 15’s caps: 0
How did you first get into rugby? A friend suggested that I should try out rugby.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Helen Buteme (Black Panthers & Uganda)

Rugby awards won: Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Between athletics and rugby, which is the more enjoyable sport? Rugby of course! It has a ball and you play it with other people whereas in athletics you are running alone. Athletics is an individual sport.

Are the preparations for this World Cup different from what you experience in athletics? The running is a bit similar and it has actually improved my endurance for longer distances but otherwise the preparations are different. In athletics we never have camps for a long period and we do a lot of personal training. In rugby we are always training together and there is a lot of focus on team bonding.

What is the most difficult thing about rugby and what do you enjoy most about it? Tackling is the most difficult thing and I love side stepping. It’s just the best.

Best rugby moment: When I was selected onto the Lady Cranes team to South Africa for the Nelson Mandela Bay 7s and making it onto the World Cup team.

Worst rugby moment: When I got a thigh injury.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? We have worked hard for this and although this is a new game to me I love it and it feels good that I am going. The whole nation wants us to come back with a trophy so we have to deliver.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To find my way to the try line.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? Our chances are good. We just need to keep focused and work together.

Rugby is Justine Bayigga’s new love although she also enjoys swimming. She first touched a rugby ball in October 2008: prior to that she had been carving her name in athletics. Justine has represented Uganda in the 100m, 200m and 400m at various international athletic competitions. Although the world of athletics is rife with doping Justine has her own dogma: determination, strength of will and the right attitude is enough to enhance performance without resorting to performance-enhancing substances. Justine holds the distinction of being the only member of the Lady Cranes team that has performed at an event of the same magnitude as the World Cup – the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her advice to her team mates is to keep focused in Dubai and to play their own game and not play the crowd.

Helen Koyokoyo Buteme

2009-02-16T12:14:00.006+03:00

Name: Helen Koyokoyo Buteme
Nickname: Booty, Bootsie
Occupation: Research Scientist
Date of birth: 27/05/1980
Home district: Mbale
Club: Black Panthers
Height: 5’4
Weight: 60kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Scrumhalf, flyhalf, centre, winger
Rugby experience: 6 years
7’s Debut: Tunis CAR 7's '07
Number of 7’s tournaments: 4
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 3
How did you first get into rugby? I used to play field hockey then got disillusioned with how it was being run so I quit playing but I did not want to sit around doing nothing. I’d always loved watching rugby and both my brothers played so I thought it was something I could try out. There was a major drawback though, at that time there was no women’s rugby in Uganda so I used to play touch rugby with the men. More girls joined me and after a couple of months we were enough players to play contact rugby against each other.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Yayiro Kasasa (ex-UTL Kobs & Uganda), Edmond Tumisiime (UTL Kobs & Uganda), John Musoke (Rhinos & Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): Tana Umaga, Serevi, Victor Matfield, Victor Sudi

Rugby awards won: 2004 Kabeberi 7s & Kisumu 7s MVP, 2004 Thunderbirds highest points scorer, 2004 Kyadondo player of the year, 2004 & 2005 URU women’s player of the Year, Runner up 2007 Tunis 7s, Runner up 2007 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up WRWC qualifiers. Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Best rugby moment: Beating Tunisia in the semi-final of the WRWC 7’s qualifier in September 2008 to qualify for the 2009 WRWC 7’s.

Worst rugby moment: Losing to South Africa in the final of the 2007 CAR 7s and losing to Tunisia in the pool stages of the WRWC 7’s qualifier in September 2008.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? I’m really excited about it. All the sacrifices made and the hard work paid off. It’s a dream come true. But I’m also pretty nervous. We’ve got so many people counting on us to perform well and while it’s great that they have that confidence in us it’s scary at the same time.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To make every tackle and every run count and to be creative.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We are set to cause some upsets. We’ve worked hard and prepared well: I really think that we can make it to the cup quarters.

Other interests/talents: I love reading classic literature and fantasy novels. Aside from sports I’m not much good at anything else … apart from mixing G & T.

Helen Buteme was the pioneer of the first women’s rugby team (Thunderbirds) in Uganda and her number one fan is her big brother, Erika Wanda. She is the younger sister of former Uganda international, Nathan Wasolo (who incidentally wishes she would play a gentler sport). On tours when hot water runs out, Helen has been known to wait until the water heats up again – even if it means sleeping after midnight!

Joan Andika Mukoya

2009-02-16T12:14:00.005+03:00

Name: Joan Andika Mukoya
Nickname: Boda boda
Occupation: Self-employed
Date of birth: 30/10/1984
Home district: Mbale
Club: Rangers
Height: 5’0
Weight: 53.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Scrumhalf, centre, winger
Rugby experience: 6 years
7’s Debut: Kampala CAR 7's '06
Number of 7’s tournaments: 3
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 4
How did you first get into rugby? My sister started playing rugby and told me about it so I joined rugby just to have fun. I did not think I would take it up seriously but I got addicted to the game and I love it.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Edmond Tumusiime (UTL Kobs & Uganda), Robert Sseguya (MTN Heathens)

Rugby awards won: Runner up 2006 & 2007 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up 2007 Tunis 7s

Best rugby moment: When I made tries for my team and we won against Thunderbirds for the first time

Worst rugby moment: When we lost to South Africa in the 2006 CAR 7s

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To support my team mates

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? I believe in all the players who are on that team so feel we stand as good a chance as any other team to win

Joan Andika has represented Uganda in both field hockey and cricket. She enjoys listening to music and having fun in church. Joan earned the nickname Boda Boda due to her ability to weave through opponents in a manner similar to the way boda bodas (motor bikes that ferry passengers) weave through traffic to get to their destinations. Joan missed the qualifiers last year after an injury that left one side of her body paralysed for a couple of days but has worked her way back onto the team and although she did not make the final 12 she is a non-travelling reserve.

Harriet Kayonjo

2009-02-16T12:13:00.003+03:00

Name: Harriet Kayonjo
Occupation: Self-employed
Date of birth: 12/06/1978
Home district: Mitiyana
Club: Thunderbirds
Height: 5’5
Weight: 63.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Flyhalf, centre, winger
Rugby experience: 5 years
7’s Debut: Kampala CAR 7's '06
Number of 7’s tournaments: 3
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 4
How did you first get into rugby? I was passing by the rugby club and I saw girls playing so I joined them and fell in love with the game.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Peter Magona (retired but ex-MTN Heathens & Uganda)

Rugby awards won: Runner up 2006 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up WRWC qualifiers. Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Best rugby moment: Qualifying for the World Cup

Worst rugby moment: Losing to South Africa in the final of the 2006 CAR 7s

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It feels good and I’m very happy and excited.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? Our chances are good. We can cause a few upsets and take that trophy.

Harriet Kayonjo is Uganda’s top female goalkeeper. The football international also enjoys playing netball and loves having fun and laughing.

Fortunate Irankunda

2009-02-16T12:12:00.005+03:00

Name: Fortunate Irankunda
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: 20/05/1983
Home district: Kisoro
Club: Black Panthers
Height: 5’2
Weight: 84kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Prop
Rugby experience: 5 years
7’s Debut: WRWC 7's qualifiers '08
Number of 7’s tournaments: 2
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 3
How did you first get into rugby? I first watched men playing and I immediately liked the game. When I saw women playing I decided that I wanted to play too. A friend introduced me to Helen and i joined her.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Helen Buteme (Black Panthers & Uganda), Allan Musoke (UTL Kobs & Uganda), Moses Soita (G4S Pirates & Uganda), Anthony Kinene (G4S Pirates & Uganda), Robert Sseguya (MTN Heathens & Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): Bryan Haban

Rugby awards won: Runner up WRWC qualifiers, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7’s

Best rugby moment: When I broke through down the wing against South Africa in the WRWC qualifiers final & qualifying for the World Cup.

Worst rugby moment: When playing against Rwanda I was held back 2 metres from the try line. I remained suspended in the air and try as I might I could not score.

How does it feel knowing that Lady Cranes are going for the World Cup? I feel great because we are the first ever sport from Uganda to be in the World Cup. I really trust my team mates and have no doubt that we shall perform well.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? I am not on the 12 so I will pray for victory for the team and support them in every way I can. If I do travel I play just like a lion hunting for food on an empty stomach.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? At the least the plate finals although I believe we can be in the top 8.

Fortunate Irankunda occasionally plays football, volleyball, handball and cricket. She also coaches the disabled in Seatball (a modified version of volleyball for the disabled). She is a social individual and loves kids.

Christine Kizito

2009-02-16T12:12:00.004+03:00

Name: Christine Kizito
Nickname: Landlord
Occupation: Self-employed
Date of birth: 16/11/1974
Home district: Kampala
Club: Thunderbirds
Height: 5’8
Weight: 105.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Prop
Rugby experience: 6 years
7’s Debut: Kampala CAR 7's '06
Number of 7’s tournaments: 5
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 6
How did you first get into rugby? One of the members of a Entebbe Mongers rugby club saw me playing beach volleyball and persuaded me to join rugby.

Favourite local rugby players(s): David Chwa

Favourite international rugby player(s): Dan Carter

Rugby awards won: 2004 Thunderbirds Best forward, 2006 Kyadondo Rugby Club women’s player of the year, 2007 Uganda Rugby Union (URU) women’s player of the year), 2008 Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) Rugby personality of the year, Runner up 2006 & 2007 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up 2007 Tunis 7s, Runner up WRWC qualifiers, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7s

Best rugby moment: When we qualified for the World Cup

Worst rugby moment: Losing to South Africa in the 2007 CAR 7’s

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? I feel great because we are the first team froom Uganda to qualify for a World Cup.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? I will play hard, be aggressive and play my heart out.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We are looking good so I feel we can make it to the finals. We can try and bring that cup home.

Other interests/talents: Volleyball and dancing.

Christine Kizito earned the nickname Landlord because of her imposing size. Switching from volleyball to rugby is a decision that she does not regret as she found a sport that she truly fitted in. Christine rarely dances but when she does, the earth moves …

Charlotte Thereza Mudoola

2009-02-16T12:11:00.003+03:00

Name: Charlotte Thereza Mudoola
Nickname: Diapers/International concussion
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: 02/08/1985
Home district: Iganga
Club: Rangers
Height: 5’3
Weight: 55.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Scrumhalf, flyhalf, winger
Rugby experience: 6 years
7’s Debut: Kampala CAR 7's '06
Number of 7’s tournaments: 4
15’s debut: versus Rwanda Feb '05
Number of 15’s caps: 5
How did you first get into rugby? My brothers, Fred and Tim, taught me the first things about rugby during my school holidays. I did not start to actually play until my last year in high school when I started playing touch rugby with the boys who played rugby in my school. None of the girls were interested so I was the ‘weird’ one.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Edmond Tumusiime, Timothy Mudoola, Allan Musoke (all UTL Kobs & Uganda)

Favourite international rugby player(s): Piri Weepu, Dan Carter, Phillips Mcgregory

Rugby awards won: 2005 Black Panthers best back, 2008 Kyadondo Rugby Club MVP, Runner up 2006 & 2007 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7s, Runner up 2007 Tunis 7s, Runner up WRWC qualifiers

Best rugby moment: The day we qualified for the World Cup

Worst rugby moment: Getting a concussion in the pool game against Tunisia and at the same time we lost that game. Being told that I could not play the semi final made it worse.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. I feel so good and so proud to be part of the World Cup team representing Uganda. I feel it’s time we sent out a message to the whole world why we are proud to be Ugandans. It’s also great to make history in sports.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? I will use my strengths i.e. tackling hard in defence and supporting my team mates in both attack and defence. I will play with heart and passion.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We are going to surprise a lot people. Everyone will respect and love us once the World Cup is done.

Other interests/talents: I also play football, basketball and volleyball.

Charlotte Mudoola represented Uganda schools during the East African Schools Volleyball tournament in Tanzania in 1999. After leaving school Charlotte initially joined a volleyball club then abandoned it a few weeks after discovering that a women’s rugby team had been formed. Her mother is now her biggest fan & has been known to force feed Charlotte in a bid to make her put on weight. Charlotte is the baby sister to former Uganda international Fred Mudoola and current Uganda international Timothy Mudoola. She started playing rugby years after her brothers had already established themselves but has got to a World Cup before them. Charlotte has also run touch in 2 international games – Kenya versus Uganda (Elgon Cup) and Uganda versus Namibia (where she had to step in after one of the South African trio handling the game sustained an injury in the first half). In her free time, Charlotte loves dancing, watching movies and having fun. Despite being a lawyer and her advanced age, Charlotte is the baby of the team hence the nickname Diapers.

Brenda Violet Kayiyi

2009-02-16T12:10:00.002+03:00

Name: Brenda Violet Kayiyi
Nickname: Killer
Occupation: Self-employed
Date of birth: 11/02/1987
Home district: Mbale
Club: Black Panthers
Height: 5’1
Weight: 60.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Prop, hooker
Rugby experience: 3 and a half years
7’s Debut: WRWC 7's qualifiers '08
Number of 7’s tournaments: 2
15’s debut: versus Kenya May '08
Number of 15’s caps: 2
How did you first get into rugby? A friend who played rugby encouraged me to join.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Edmond Tumusiime (UTL Kobs & Uganda), John Musoke (Rhinos & Uganda), Helen Buteme (Black Panthers and Uganda)

Rugby awards won: 2005 Black Panthers Best Upcoming player, 2008 Black Panthers Player of the Year, Runner up WRWC qualifiers, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7’s

Best rugby moment: My club’s first win against the top women’s team in Uganda (Thunderbirds) & qualifying for the World Cup.

Worst rugby moment: When my club had just formed we lost all our games that season – badly.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? I am so happy that my hard work paid off. I cannot wait to get to Dubai and play rugby.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To make big tackles and to support my team mates.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We are going to surprise people. We can finish in the top 8.

Brenda is the youngest player on the team but is hard, strong and uncompromising in her approach to the game. She was nicknamed Killer due to her big tackles. In 2008 a male player had to be stretchered off the pitch after Brenda got in between him and the try line …

Agnes Nantongo

2009-02-16T12:09:00.005+03:00

Name: Agnes Nantongo
Nickname: Wild thing
Occupation: Hotel Management
Date of birth: 30/09/81
Home district: Kampala
Club: Thunderbirds
Height: 5’7
Weight: 67kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Prop
Rugby experience: 5 years
7’s Debut: N/A
Number of 7’s tournaments: 0
15’s debut: N/A
Number of 15’s caps: 0
How did you first get into rugby? A friend encouraged me to try it out.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Allan Musoke (UTL Kobs & Uganda)

Best rugby moment: Watching Lady Cranes qualifying for the World Cup.

Worst rugby moment: The camps we are going through at the moment.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It’s a great feeling. I think it’s a good opportunity for women’s rugby and for Uganda. I cannot wait to play the worls’ best.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To play my heart out.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We’ve put in a lot of effort and we are determined. I’m looking at the main cup.

Other interests/talents: Travelling to new places, reading novels, watching movies and listening to music (gospel, classical and Ugandan).

Agnes Nantongo has represented Uganda in basketball and splits her time between basketball and rugby. She was nicknamed Wild Thing due to her style of running – legs and arms all over the place – no stop sign. She wants the world to know that she is a true African woman who loves challenges.

Aalliya Irene Adania

2009-02-16T12:07:00.004+03:00

Name: Aalliya Irene Adania
Nickname: Schwarzenegger
Occupation: Student
Date of birth: 22/04/1985
Home district: Arua
Club: Rangers
Height: 5’4
Weight: 73.5kgs
Position(s) in 7’s: Prop, hooker
Rugby experience: 2 years
7’s Debut: WRWC 7's qualifiers '08
Number of 7’s tournaments: 2
15’s debut: versus Kenya Aug '08
Number of 15’s caps: 1
How did you first get into rugby? When girls rugby was introduced at my school my sports teacher recommended that I try it out.

Favourite local rugby players(s): Robert Sseguya, Bishop Onen (both MTN Heathens & Uganda).

Favourite international rugby player(s): All the New Zealand rugby players.

Rugby awards won: 2007 School girl 7s MVP, 2007 Uganda Rugby Union (URU) women’s Best upcoming player, Runner up WRWC qualifiers, Runner up 2008 Nelson Mandela Bay 7’s

Best rugby moment: When we qualified for the World Cup.

Worst rugby moment: When I was dropped from the 15 aside team for the first leg of the Elgon Cup.

How does it feel knowing that you are going for the World Cup? It’s a dream come true. I feel like a heroine and my self esteem has risen. But I’m tired of waiting: I want the ‘D’ day to come so that we can unleash to the world our great talent.

What do you as an individual hope to do at the World Cup that will help Lady Cranes perform well? To make my tackles count such that whoever I tackle has a story to tell her children. To make good runs and big hits.

What do you think Uganda’s chances at the World Cup are? We have put in a lot and have improved a lot so I believe we can aim for lifting that trophy.

Other interests/talents: I also play netball and basketball.

Aalliya is a veritable chatterbox with a permanent smile on her face. Her inability to see brick walls in front of her has earned her the nickname Schwarzenegger from her team mates. Aalliya wants the world to know that she is a focused, determined, brave and no nonsense person who gets whatever she wants at whatever cost. She is a charming lady who enjoys travelling, acting and dancing.

Love at first sight

2009-02-16T12:03:00.001+03:00

On Friday, our team manager bought everyone in the team new boots. Racheal came a bit late so Rose picked out a flashy red pair for her. Racheal liked them but when she tried them on they were too big for her so she went back to exchange them. Now Racheal sent me an email this morning and she reckons that for her it was love at fist sight. What the guy selling the boots? No, the boots themselves. Although she had to pay extra money for the boots that she traded she did not mind and she woke up at night just to look at them. See what the world cup is doing to us …

The next posts will be profiles of the 12 players and the 2 reserves who make up the squad to Dubai.

Week 6 – Roller coaster

2009-02-16T11:51:00.000+03:00

This week has had the team going through a roller coaster of emotions. From the tension of wondering who had got the axe to the joy/relief of being on the team (or the sadness of not making it) to knowing who we will face first during the World Cup.

The team was named on Tuesday and it brought mixed feelings. The people who were named on the team were overjoyed and relieved at the same time. It was only disappointment for those who did not make it. Although we expected it it’s still so horrible that some people were dropped. We’ve all been through so much together, worked so hard and have become so close that it hurts that we do not all get to go.

The reactions to the news that our first game was to be against New Zealand were amazing. Girls jumped up and down with glee: we’d all been hoping to play New Zealand first. We think it’s better to start with the toughest game first such that we set a standard for ourselves for the rest of our tournament. We think it will be a great game and are just cannot wait to get started.

Aside from the team being named and the playing schedule coming out, it’s been business as usual. We had a relatively light session on Wednesday then played Saracens at the end of our training session on Friday. What a game that was. We are looking so good that our Soggy and Mutaks are always beaming at the end of each session. We trained on Saturday in the morning instead of the afternoon. Mutaks said it was to give us time to freshen up for our Valentine’s dates. He was on a frolic of his own there. We’ve all put romance on hold until after the world cup so his good intentions were wasted. Hmmh, but maybe I’m speaking for myself …

I spent the evening of Valentine’s curled up on the sofa drinking grape juice (the closest thing to wine that I drink at the moment) watching the San Diego 7s with my kittens. What a perfect way to spend the evening (and no, that’s not sour grapes. That’s the truth).

Breaking news - World Cup team and World Cup schedule

2009-02-12T08:58:00.004+03:00

World Cup team

Helen Koyokoyo Buteme (that's me)
Rosenburg Dinah Kanyunyuzi
Charlotte Thereza Mudoola
Prossy Pearce Nakakande
Winnie Alexanda Atyang
Racheal Kakaire Babirye
Brenda Violet Kayiyi
Aalliya Irene Adania
Agnes Nantongo
Harriet Kayonjo
Justine Bayigga
Christine Kizito

On stand by: Joan Andika Mukoya and Fortunate Irankunda

Schedule for pool games

March 6th, 1228 (1128 - Ugandan time): New Zealand versus Uganda (pitch 2)
March 6th, 1545 (1445 - Ugandan time): South Africa versus Uganda (pitch 1)
March 6th, 1820 (1720 - Ugandan time): Italy versus Uganda (pitch 2)

I will bring you our reactions next week on Monday.

Blessings

2009-02-09T12:10:00.000+03:00

Yogi usually has a lot to say when she says it but this time all she could manage was, ‘GOD BLESS UGANDA!’

After this tough week I (Helen) just have to say this, Lady Cranes you are awesome. PAKA LAST!

Weekend away from home

2009-02-09T12:08:00.002+03:00

Christine Kizito (in picture): at first I was happy when we were called for our second camp. My emotions changed after the roadwork on Saturday and Sunday. I usually like the sprints although I find them tiresome but this time my body was so tired and I could not push myself. I almost wished I could fall sick. Despite camp being tough I believe I have improved so it was not all bad.

Prossy Nakakande: a weekend away from home is ordinarily a good thing only that we had to wake up early to run … on hills! We started our jog from the hotel and the pace was comfortable but halfway through, Helen and Justine suddenly decided to unleash their sprinting power on the hills and forgot about the rest of us as we struggled to keep up. I was in shock and I wondered what the hell was going on with those 2 girls: don’t they know what a ‘jog’ is? The rest of the day’s training was ok but very hard and tiring. God, I wished I had spare body parts. Heaven smiled on us on Sunday when it rained at the right time (for once). We slept until breakfast time. When things seem too good to be true – they are. We still did roadwork with the dreaded hill sprints then had a light pitch session. Camp sessions are tough but they are great for the team and if we can survive them (which we are doing) we can pull through anything. All the same understand me when I say I cannot wait to go back home.

Hot

2009-02-09T12:07:00.001+03:00

Justine Bayigga/Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi/Racheal Kakaire/Brenda Kayiyi: This camp was hot! If we thought our first camp was tough then this one was tougher. It’s been the worst ever. Those hills are just torture. The worst part of the camp was thinking the cats and dogs falling from the sky in the wee hours of Sunday morning had ‘rescued’ us from doing roadwork but the coaches had other ideas. We ended up doing it anyway. We cannot believe where we got the strength to push on from but somehow we did.

Dream or Nightmare?

2009-02-09T12:03:00.002+03:00

Winnie Atyang/ Joan Andika: At first it was funny: swinging the ball one way while running uphill then running downhill as the ball went the other way. But as the morning wore on and as the day got hotter it ceased being a joke. Rugby pitches are meant to be flat but the pitch we were training on had a 30 degree slant to it from one touch line to the other. Ok, it was a football pitch not a rugby pitch but surely even football is played on a flat pitch! Then the roadwork … No words can describe it. The 10km marathon run we did in November last year as part of our fitness regime was easy compared to the hills we sprint up. Going for the World Cup is a dream come true for us but we have to live through many nightmares first.

Shock

2009-02-09T11:50:00.002+03:00

Aalliya Adania: We tackled in the mud on Wednesday and ended up looking like professional mud wrestlers. We did shuttle runs at the end of the session and the worst bit of it was when I thought we were warming down but we hit the gym instead! I was really tired but I had to live up to my nickname ‘Schwarzenegger’ so I pumped that iron. I loved our games against Saracens on Friday; I really believe my game is upping so everything is going in the right direction so far. In camp I liked Saturday’s roadwork. I found the sprints easier than at our previous camp. I went to bed tired at the end of the day but happy with myself. I woke up at 5.30am on Sunday and shortly afterwards it started raining then it changed to a drizzle. I was so angry that the rain was teasing us with its stop-start games and complained bitterly while my roomie Charlotte pleaded with the heavens to let loose. Well, God answered her prayers so we had a lie in until breakfast. We got the shock of our lives when we started the 10am session with roadwork. It was really tough but I still had to prove that I was ‘Schwarzenegger’. I was pleased that I did the roadwork well but I do not think my team mates even noticed. They all had issues of their own to deal with.

Agnes Nantongo: the week’s training was tough but I enjoyed it. But camp was another story altogether. It was hell on earth. But it had its nice moments, the best of which was the unexpected lie in on Sunday morning and thinking no early morning jogging, but we thought wrong and we paid in kind ... 4 hours later. Girls pushed themselves to their utmost limits. God bless them.

Boot camp

2009-02-09T11:47:00.005+03:00

Saturday 7th February: we woke up at 5.45am for roadwork. Soggy wants us to break a barrier so he took us on a 5km run with lots of hills then we did 15 uphill sprints and a 2km jog back to the hotel (we used a shortcut). We had pitch sessions (contact drills, passing drills, games ...)from 10am - 1pm and from 4pm – 7pm. Good sessions but exhausting! How would I survive the next day?

Sunday 8th February: I woke up at 5.45am and could not believe my ears when I heard it raining. Whoppee! My excitement melted away when I remembered that at the last camp the rain had a habit of ceasing whenever we are meant to go for roadwork. However by 6.15am it was still raining heavily so I called Jero (our team manager) and she told me to stay put until further communication. I was settling back to sleep again when I realised that I could not hear the rain anymore so I peeped out of the window. It was too dark to see anything so I got out of bed and went and stood outside: it was still raining although not as heavily as before. I did a little jig of pleasure in the rain and bounced back into my room and into my bed. Despite the rain, at that moment the day looked brighter.

Ha! So I thought. Breakfast at eight and training at 10am. We had to make up for missing the roadwork session so we had a 5km run only it was a different route with different hills but the usual uphill sprints. Afterwards, we jogged back to the training ground, tongues rolling and wondering if the army had such a brutal training regimen. We had a 15 minute break then played touch rugby and went through our moves before winding up. We had lunch at 1pm and checked out. Monday and Tuesday are rest days and then we resume on Wednesday.

The training we are going through is so intense. None of us has ever prepared for something this big before so we really did not know what to expect. The great thing is that as times get tougher we get tighter as a team and are constantly encouraging each other to get the best out of ourselves. We come out of the sessions tired but stronger than before. The coaches are pleased with us especially as they are getting lots of positive feedback about us from rugby players (both ex-international and current international) and fans. The rugby fraternity is really rallying around us and we do not want to let them or ourselves down. Currently, our lives revolve around work and the rugby pitch. No time for anything else or anyone else. No alcohol either … the sacrifices we have to make. Meanwhile, Soggy and Mutaks have promised that the intensity will be toned down as we approach the World Cup. Hard work now and we’ll play easy. Hate them now and we’ll love them afterwards. Sounds fair ... ish.

Week 5 - Tight

2009-02-09T11:36:00.003+03:00

Monday 2nd February: What do you know? With all that rain in the morning the pitch was not flooded. Not even wet. Just nice and soft and a bit squishy in some places. We started off with ball handling then we played against a couple of the guys who play for Heathens. They are bigger than the Saracens guys and play in division 1 so they have to be easy on us. No full out tackles or big hits. They are just supposed to make us work hard. We were bushed at the end but did pretty well: we scored 2 tries and although they scored more tries than we did they had to work really hard for them. Things are looking good.

Wednesday 4th February: the pitch was flooded. Eugh! Soggy decided that was perfect for tackling drills. One on one and the hits and the tackles were massive: no prisoners taken. Afterwards, we looked a right mess – there was more mud on us than on the pitch. We wound up with defence patterns, shuttle runs then the gym. Connie (our team doc) gave us all dewormers after training: we needed them, what with all the muddy water we were gulping down during the tackling drills!

Friday 6th February: the pitch was back to being squishy. We warmed up with passing drills then had 2 games against Saracens. The scores were close in both games. We drew the first game and lost by 1 or 2 tries in the second game. A friendly rivalry is building up between them and us and the games are played with such passion: both sides go all out and are hungry to win and the boys are so pleased that they are helping us in our World Cup preps. In an ideal world we would be flying to San Diego next weekend for the 7s tournament but we are cash strapped so we play boys.

We checked into Mukono Resort Hotel on Friday night for our second camp.

Making my day …

2009-02-02T10:40:00.002+03:00

It rained goats and cows this Monday (2nd February) morning. Not that it has anything to do with this post but this weather really sucks. We got lucky on Saturday, but I don’t think we will escape it today: the pitch will definitely be flooded. Yuck! That aside, I had sheltered under the eaves of a building this morning when a man stopped next to me and greeted me rather formally. I responded in kind and I guessed he was going to ask for directions someplace (I know, I know, how dense can I get, men never ask for directions). With a half smile, he simply said, “Good luck in Dubai.” I was so surprised but collected myself enough to thank him before he walked off.

What a way to start my week. A strange man walks up to me in the middle of town and wishes me luck … I don’t think he knows it but he made my day.

Total madness

2009-02-02T10:38:00.002+03:00

Joan Andika: I have always thought that camp was just about relaxing, team bonding and going through moves. I got a rude shock when I discovered that camp was actually a way to give our coaches more time to push us to our limits … and beyond. The sessions left me so drained that it was impossible to get a word out of me after training. I must have lost 5kgs during that camp. Nevertheless, I am now fitter and I have learned to talk. I’ll never be able to talk as much or as loudly as Winnie, Rose or Helen but at least my teammates have stopped complaining that they cannot hear my voice.

Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi: the 3 day camp was total madness. The coaches wanted the best from us and we had nowhere to hide. We thought about our pool: our initial shock at being pooled with New Zealand had gone. Yes, our pool was tough but we had to face reality, there is nothing like an easy pool. So we worked really hard. Man, it was tight but it was so good to see the girls putting in everything they could even when it seemed that we had reached breaking point. We were still tired when we trained on Wednesday but the coaches made it an easy session. We had recovered on Friday and it was a fantastic session. We are definitely getting there.

Ice bath comedy

2009-02-02T10:35:00.001+03:00

With me out of the picture, Brenda and Kayonjo having resigned themselves to it and Charlotte, well … sort of starting to come to terms with it I thought that the series had come to an end. Ha! Not so. Training ended at 4.30pm and Jero, our team manager, announced, “Ice bath”. Girls had to sit up to their necks in a tub of ice for 3 minutes. Most managed it with minimal fuss but Charlotte, Aggie (in picture), Christine and Joan entertained the team with their antics. They would each get in for about 5 seconds then hop out red-eyed and screaming and make a beeline straight for the shower and stand under it for 1 minute. The water coming out from the shower was cold but compared to the ice it was hot. It took them 10 minutes of hopping in and out of the ice bath to do their 3-minute soak. That is one of the things that will not be missed after the World Cup.

Week 4 - Belief

2009-02-02T10:30:00.002+03:00

Wednesday 28th January: we did not do the bleep test and had a light training session as the coaches thought we were still fatigued from the camp. They were so right but we still pushed ourselves. The world cup is just 4 weeks away. The Uganda Rugby Union executive committee were around to watch our training session. Afterwards, Andrew Owiny (the chairman) and William Blick (the vice chairman) had a chat with us.

Friday 30th January: another really good session. We’re really coming together. Confidence is way up and there is mounting excitement in the team. Management informed us that we have 2 more camps ahead of us and at some point the intensity of the training we are going through will decrease. But for now, we are keeping our feet firmly on the pedal. The hardest moment for us all will be at the end of this week when 4 of us are dropped. I won’t think about it just now.

Saturday 31st January: the morning started off wet, and got wetter then at midday the sun came out in all its glory. Surprisingly, the pitch was not flooded. I guess it was really thirsty and sucked all the moisture to way below the surface. Though not flooded, the pitch was soft so landing on it was not painful. We started training at 1pm with ball handling. During the ball handling session Soggy asked Justine who was helping her with her passing. She replied that it was me (Helen). For a couple of seconds, Soggy forgot to breathe then he categorically stated, “No way: game reading, tackling, actually anything else to do with rugby, go to Helen but for passing find someone else – either Claire, Rose, Joan or Rachel.” Hmmph. I was rather miffed at that even if it he was right. Rose almost tripped over herself laughing: she would, she has the best passes on the team.

At 2.30pm we played 2 games against Saracens (a division 2 men’s team). They were younger than the guys we usually play against so they were not so much bigger than us but they were still lots faster than us and physically stronger. That said we put a great show against the guys. The coaches fielded 2 different teams and each team scored one try and had 3 tries scored against them. There was lots of support from the stands for us and we are not the only ones starting to believe in ourselves. When the draws first came out, fans told us “Don’t worry. Just go and play”. But now after tracking our progress over the last 2 weeks they believe we measure up to the World Cup standards and now expect a lot from us. Charlotte’s mother told her last week, “Don’t come back without the trophy.”

Hey, it’s wonderful having people who believe in you.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

2009-01-27T13:23:00.000+03:00

Justine Bayigga: When Helen sent me the message about the draws I lost all my mental focus. I left home straight away and went to Kyadondo and found Rose there. We sat in the changing room waiting for other girls to come for training. I do not know much about rugby but those countries sounded scary. I could not concentrate during training and failed to run: the coaches thought I was sick. The good thing is that I was not alone. My team mates were in the same boat.

Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi (in picture): on Monday 19th 2009, I stayed at home the whole day. I did not go to the gym in the morning. I wanted to give my body a rest so I did what I love doing best … sleeping. I was listening to music when I my mobile phone beeped to indicate that I had received a text message. For some reason I was reluctant to read it although I did not know the contents of the message. After a couple of minutes I checked the message and it read ‘World Cup draw group d New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Uganda.’ I fell out of my bed as I swore all the known swear words plus invented some of my own. My stomach went crazy and I hopped about my bedroom not sure what I was feeling then rushed to the toilet and stayed there for about half an hour. After that I went for training. I did not even have lunch. I was about 2 hours early for training but I could not stay in the house. I thought I was going to go mad.

Claire Anena

2009-01-27T12:48:00.000+03:00

Training

I love the way girls are putting in their all and most people have started talking. The moves are working out and although we still have some work to do we are getting there. Team spirit is at an all time high and we just seem to get better and better. I love it.

The draws

Hmph! That draw really was not fair. South Africa and Uganda in the same pool: we are both African countries! Anyway, I think that New Zealand, Italy and South Africa are beatable. We just have to be confident.

Aalliya Adania aka Schwarzenegger

2009-01-27T12:44:00.000+03:00

On January 19th at exactly 1449hrs I got a text message that totally confused me. I was still in bed so at first I thought that I was having a daymare. I read the message about 5 times before I understood it then started wailing. My dad happened to be at home that day and he rushed to my bedroom to find out what was wrong. I could not answer any of his questions and pushed my mobile phone into his hands. He read that message and remarked casually, ‘Ah, so you are scared.’ I was so angry that he did not seem moved that I responded, ‘Of course, I’m scared. What do you know about rugby and New Zealand?’ I stormed out of the house without eating and almost in tears. Although it was still early I went to Kyadondo Rugby Club (our training ground) where I found Justine and Rose sitting in the changing room looking very depressed. If we did not believe we are really going for the World Cup then that was a wake up call indeed.

Joan Andika aka boda boda

2009-01-27T11:36:00.000+03:00

Training

The training we are going through is always hard and really tight. The moment I think too much about it I either lose concentration and ‘sleep’ or I freak out. Whenever I’m kitting up for training I’m wondering what the coaches have in store for us and when I get onto the pitch and see the crowd that have come to watch us train I think, ‘oh my God, we are dead. All these people to witness me messing up and getting told off by the coach.’ I get butterflies and it takes a while for me to settle down. All the same, I really love the training session especially as I feel that I keep stepping up every session and the coaches have also noticed it and have told me so. So despite the nerves and tension I’m actually enjoying myself and I look forward to each training session.

The draws

When I received the text message about the draws I could not believe that we were put in the same pool with South Africa – we are both from Africa so I had assumed we would be in different pools. Then Italy and New Zealand! I felt weak and got a stomach ache. Worse still we had training that evening. We talked about it as a team and I felt much better. Each day the confidence I had lost has rebuilt and I can see my team mates are strong once again. After all they are women just like us (bigger but still human) and we can take then on. Nothing is impossible and small nation that we are we can still strive to win that World Cup!

Camp

2009-01-27T10:22:00.000+03:00

It rained cats and dogs on Saturday morning. Not a nice way to start the weekend. Having to wake up at 6:00am was even worse. We got to Mukono at around 9, an hour behind schedule: totally understandable because in Uganda when it rains everything comes to a standstill. We breakfasted, rested then got to the pitch at Uganda Christian Martyrs University (UCU) at 11am.

The training schedule for Saturday and Sunday was
6:00am - 7.30am – roadwork (though we missed that on Saturday because we were travelling).
7:45am – 10:45am – shower/breakfast/rest
11:00am – 1:00pm – training
1:15pm – 4:15pm – shower/lunch/rest
4:30pm – 6:00pm - training
6:15pm – 7:15pm – shower/rest
7:30pm – team talk
9:00pm - supper

Monday’s schedule was slightly different.
6:00am - 7.30am – roadwork
7:45am – 10:00am – shower/breakfast/rest
10:30am – 12:30pm – training
12:45pm – 1:00pm – game
1:15pm – shower/checkout/lunch
3:00pm – hot seat

5:00pm - left camp

The camp was great although the weather was really horrible. The rain welcomed us every morning though strangely enough it would stop to give us a chance to do our roadwork that start again when we were done. We had so much time to work on ball skills, contact skills, fitness, game plan and the all important team bonding. The roadwork was like being in boot camp – a 2 to 3 km run to a hill where we did 16 sprints then jogged back to the hotel and it was uphill most of the way. We would wind up with push-ups, sit-ups, calf raises and squats. We really pushed ourselves to the limit on the Monday roadwork session and impressed Soggy so much that he got emotional and told us that he loved us. How sweet.

Mutaks lauded us for being well brought up and behaving like ladies (the worst culprits were Joan, Prossy, Kayonjo and Charlotte) but said he did not want any of that nonsense on pitch. So he brought on the grid of pain. I think that was our best contact session yet. We were divided into teams of 5 and put in a 7 by 5 metre grid. 2 teams had to flex for the ball and try to cross over the other team’s line and ground the ball. Best of three and the loser stayed on. In such a small space containing 10 people, contact was unavoidable. It was brutal but it had it fun moments. Yogi (in picture rucking) gave Aggie a huge tackle that had Aggie squealing and calling on all her ancestors for help. Yogi was quick to apologise and started fussing over Aggie. Soggy told both of them off: Aggie for squealing and Yogi for apologising. The next time Aggie got the ball she charged through 3 people and crossed over the line; Yogi redeemed herself by tackling me and kneeling on my stomach as she turned over the ball. Justine tried to go through 2 people and was sent back a clear 2 metres and smashed into the ground and hurt her thigh. Enough to put off anyone but not our Justine she kept on going back for more punishment. The hits were big and the tackles even bigger. That grid brought out the animal in each one of us – even Joan, Prossy, Kayonjo and Charlotte forgot about being ladies and went wild. Woooooooooooo!!!! I loved it.

We were always exhausted at the end of the day but lots of girls came out of their shells and literally blossomed – especially Kayonjo and Joan: they have shed some of their reserve and are playing beautiful rugby. The entire team is playing hard and playing well. The focus is way up there and the self belief is growing. Soggy and Mutaks confessed that we are making it hard for them to choose a final team and so far they have selected 15 different sides and are still trying to select.

We had the ‘hot seat’ for coaches on Saturday night during our team talk. An individual sits in front of the team and one by one the team talks about that person’s positive and negative traits and suggestions on how to improve the negative. The ‘hot seat’ is meant to help in team bonding and it was the first time we had done it. It was a really good session. The players’ and rest of management (TM, doctor, UWRA chairperson) 'hot seat' was held on Monday before we broke camp and like the coaches ‘hot seat’ it was great. We left Mukono a much better team than when we arrived.

We did not train on Monday evening and have been ordered to rest on Tuesday: no gym, no running, just ‘chilling’ then a bleep test on Wednesday.

Cancelled - Week 3

2009-01-27T10:16:00.000+03:00

Monday 19th January: most girls trained on empty stomachs: I’d spoiled their lunch time with news of the draws. It’s finally hit everyone. World cup is just around the corner. We were tense but there was a strange determination as we went about our training. Big hits, big tackles and our moves were working out well. Guess New Zealand loomed large in everyone’s minds. Winnie (in picture) told the team that she’d been told by one of the guys that if she were to play for New Zealand she would be a scrum half as she would be too small to play anywhere else. Scary thought because Winnie is our second biggest player: not just in 7’s but in 15’s as well.

After the session, Soggy said we are getting there. From him, that counts as praise.

Exactly 6 weeks to go before we set foot in Dubai.

Wednesday 21st January: Soggy announced he was now contented.Ball handling was looking good and fitness is almost where it should be. We just need to tidy up a few loose ends and then he’ll be happy.

There is a Ugandan public holiday on Monday so we go into camp in Mukono on Friday night up until Monday. The Lady Springboks (South Africans) fitness coach, Hene Ncebe and 7’s selector, Norman Mbiko, were meant to link up with Soggy and Mutaks to take us through this camp. However, SARU cancelled the plans after we were drawn in the same pool. That’s fair enough: it wouldn’t make sense for them to coach us to beat them.

Friday 22nd January: another good session. Lots of ball handling first then we played against a select side of men. Being a lot faster and bigger/heavier than us we had to think on our feet, be more creative and very aggressive. The guys were being really physical when they had possession and in defence they were stopping us hard rather than giving full out tackles so that we wouldn’t get hurt. We did pretty well and enjoyed ourselves. Mutaks almost had a coronary when Justine got the ball on the wing and had rounded the opposite winger then he chased and gave her a flying tackle. We were so worried that Justine would not be able to get up. However, she got up unhurt and got back into the game but Mutaks was beside himself. “Those guys should not kill my girls. Let them (the girls) kill each other but the guys should handle them with care.”

We wound up the session with 7 sets of shuttle sprints. As we were not going into camp on Friday night Soggy wanted to compensate for the fitness session we would miss on Saturday morning. Shuttle sprints done we paired up and did 3 sets of baby carrys, piggy backs and fireman’s lifts.

Breaking news ... world cup draw

2009-01-19T14:18:00.000+03:00

The draw for the World Cup was carried out today by Bernard Lapasset, the Chairman of Rugby World Cup Limited, with Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group in Dubai today.

Pool A: Australia , Netherlands , France , China .
Pool B: England , Japan , Russia , USA .
Pool C: Canada , Brazil , Spain , Thailand .
Pool D: New Zealand , South Africa , Italy , Uganda .

The days roll closer ...

Lady

2009-01-19T12:02:00.000+03:00

Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi: never in my life had I dreamt that I would actually step in the gym. To do what anyway? Yes, I play rugby but the gym does not feature in any of my to-do lists. As much as I love rugby I still want to be a lady. Ok, what I mean is that I want to retain the lady-ish appearance of my body. You know, the curves … etc. I have played rugby since 2003 yet this is my first time to step into the gym and oh my God, how horrible it was. Yes, we qualified for the World Cup and we were overjoyed and I was grateful to be part of history (Coach David said we would be put in the museum as national sporting heroes) but now I feel it is too much for me … going to the gym – how weird.

In December 2008 I was privileged part of a team that travelled to South Africa. We won all our group games and the semi final and met South Africa in the final. Here is where it mattered. I won’t say the South Africans were so hard but still they look so much better than us in terms of physique i.e. they go to the gym and we do not. So we were forced to do something about it and now we all go to the gym, whether we like it or not, including me.

I will never forget my first day in the gym. During our Christmas break, I jogged from home (about 2kms) so I would be already warm then took my time stretching to put off the inevitable moment. I entered the gym and found my friends already hard at work. My first bench press was 30kgs. I could only do 4 reps and yet I was meant to do 5 sets of 7 reps. I struggled through the 5 sets but I stuck to 4 reps then moved to do squats. I was ok with the squats and did them with 60kgs then moved on to dead lifts with 30 kgs. That wasn’t too bad as well. I wound up with 100 sit ups and called it a day. I jogged back home and wolfed down a 1 litre flask of maize meal porridge, 4 boiled eggs and 6 slices of white bread. I was unbelievably hungry. The rest of the day passed without incident but when I woke up the next morning I was in serious pain. Every part of me ached: my shoulders, arms, thighs, even my toes. I could barely move. I could not believe it: it was total madness. I gave myself a 2 day rest: no running and definitely no gym. I attempted press ups and sit ups but it was so so painful. I had to re-think this gym thing.

Ok, 2 days later the pain was sort of a distant memory so I went back to the gym. Back to the bench press: still 30kgs but much more determination from me. To hell with my shapely body: I’m going for the World Cup. 2 weeks on and I can now comfortably bench press 5 sets of 10 reps with 30kgs, do squats with 75kgs and dead lifts with 70kgs. Recently some guys came to the gym and they could not even bench press 30kgs. Worse still I was taking turns doing the dead lifts with them and when it was their turn I’d have to take off 30kgs to make it lighter for them. What a great way to have my confidence boosted. Next week I want to bench press 45kgs and I am sure that I can do it. Qualifying for this World Cup has changed me in ways I never thought possible. Although I had no choice about it, weight training is something that must be done, even if my lady-ish shape is lost.

Torture chamber

2009-01-19T09:51:00.000+03:00

Helen Buteme: I spend at least 3 days a week in a torture chamber (otherwise known as the gym). I’m developing a sort of love-hate relationship with it i.e. I hate it when I’m there and I love it when I’m done. Shao (my no-nonsense gym coach) boasts that I’ll be looking like a boy by the time he’s through with me. Hello?! With my short hair, absent hips and spectacularly flat chest I already look like a boy! Well, maybe he meant a well muscled boy. Speaking of muscles, I have been accused of having biceps. Fantastic. I’ve started wearing sleeveless shirts to show them off a bit. Ok, nothing to rival the bulges on Brenda’s arms but I’m getting there thanks to hard work. I’ve moved from bench pressing 25kgs to 55kgs and can so far squat 100kgs. Some of the guys at the gym are talking of changing their gym times to the early morning hours when Aggie, Yogi, Brenda and I are not there. They’re complaining that we are embarrassing them: there’s nothing worse than a woman half your weight bench-pressing more than you do.

Truth be told

2009-01-19T09:48:00.000+03:00

Winnie Atyang: I really used to hate the gym but when we went to South Africa I realised that I was lacking the extra power needed to make the big hits and to take the big hits. I need the extra strength because without strength rugby is not fun so I’ve now got the motivation to go to the gym. BUT, the truth is, I still hate the gym.

Fortunate Irankunda: it was so frustrating to be in the gym for the first time. Being big (80kgs) there was an assumption that I should be easily bench pressing 60kgs. I was so stressed when I struggled to bench 40kgs my morale sank to an all time low. Luckily I teamed up with Justine at the Namboole gym and she took on the role as my gym instructor. She started me off slowly – 10kgs for bench press, squats, squats with step ups and dead lifts. 2 weeks later and now I’m comfortably bench pressing 40kgs, doing squats with 80kgs, step up squats with 60kgs and dead lifts with 70kgs. I’m starting school again and although I’ll no longer have Justine as my instructor, I’ve come to love the gym and will try to get access to one and continue where I’ve left off. If I can’t access a gym I’ll use sand bags: anything to keep pumping.

Rachel Kakaire: I just need two short sentences to sum up my depth of feeling about the gym: I hate gym!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I must go …

Claire Anena: I hate the gym but when I go there I attempt to show it some love so that time passes a little bit faster.

Miscellaneous info

2009-01-19T09:46:00.000+03:00

Monday 26th January is a public holiday so we'll be taking advantage of that and having a 3 day training camp this weekend.

I'll be making a weekly updates of this blog every Monday unless unavoidable circumstances prevent me from doing so.

I will be getting stories/comments/experiences from other members of the squad as well so that you get to know something about each of the 17 women who stand a chance of making it to the final squad of 12 that will represent Uganda during the World Cup.

The next couple of posts will be from various members of the team talking about the gym (weight training).

Clean pair of heels - Week 2

2009-01-19T09:44:00.001+03:00

Monday 12th January: passing the ball first then game plan from scrums. Movement patterns are getting better. Still stuff to be worked on but so far we are getting there. Justine rounded Rose, Charlotte and Rachel on separate occasions. Even if we all knew what she was going to do it they were still left choking in the dust after she showed them a clean pair of heels. Watching it happen was like in slow motion fast forwarded. Neat! Then Aggie stopped Brenda dead in her tracks with a classic hand-off: the stunned look on Brenda’s face was comical. Haaaaaaaaaa. Guess the two of them are now even.

Wednesday 14th January: passing and contact skills then game plan from scrums and lineouts. It was one of those bad days: nothing seemed to go right. Aaaaaaargh. I won’t even talk about it. We’ll sort ourselves out on Friday.

Friday 16th January: we had started warming up when ICEMARK – our sponsors – came to have a word with us. The MD Christian and Tony reiterated their unwavering commitment to women’s rugby. Actually Tony did not say anything; he just smiled at us all. Christian reminded us that it is first blood, sweat and tears before tender loving care. They spent 2 minutes with us then Christian told us to get back to work. I liked the pair of them. Short, sweet and encouraging and unlike our government they are giving us financial aid and appreciate our efforts.

We completed our warm up then started the session with 20 metre sprints – 10 continuous ones. The backs had to do them in under 54 secs and the forwards in under 1 minute. We did 3 sets of those with a 1 minute break in between. For the next drill we paired up weight wise. We had to carry our partners in our arms (baby carry) to the 5 then sprint back to the try line. Carried our partners to the 10 on our backs then sprinted back, and then do the fireman’s lift to the halfway then we both sprint back. We did three sets of those as well. No breaks in-between. The final drill was front on tackles. Person on the 5 tried to charge over the try line.
Somewhere during the session we did ball handling. Not quite sure where though but it was looking good.

We ended the session with game plan from scrums. Brenda switched from hooking the propping and pulled it off pretty well- actually really well. On her first hit, her opposite number Aggie squealed in surprise and Rose (who was hooking) grunted ‘oh, I really felt you’ and they back peddled against the impact. My offloads from the base of the scrum are still pretty dodgy and we had a couple of unforced handling errors but once we sorted all that out it was looking quite good.

Saturday 17th January: once again we trained in sweltering heat. Ball work which is really now looking good and communication is getting better. From there we moved to game plan from scrums. It’s starting to come together and look more natural. Still a few things to iron out but we’ve got to be patient with ourselves.

New year – Week 1

2009-01-15T08:38:00.000+03:00

Saturday 3rd January: the New Year saw Yogi hobbling back onto the pitch to test her ankle and Joan (boda boda) back from her neck injury while Hadijah rejoined the team after taking time off last year to have a baby. Well, we started the New Year with a bleep test. Coaches wanted to see what we had been up to since we broke off for Christmas. The cut off had been set to 14 for the backs, 13 for the hookers and scrumhalves and 12 for the props, or something like that. Bottom line, the coaches had high standards for us. Hmmh that Christmas break did us all in: we all failed so now we have to work extra hard to get there.

After the bleep test, Mutaks took us through ball handling for 1 hour then he called it a day.

Monday 5th January: we started the session with ball handling then Mutaks and Soggy made us do circuit runs (sprints) with a 30 second break after each run and a 3 minute rest after each set. I lost count of the sets along the way but I enjoyed the runs all the same. I wouldn’t mind a whole session of them though I speak for myself. Most of the team seems to prefer the gym whereas I loathe the gym. If it weren’t for this world cup I wouldn’t go anywhere near it.

Fitness done, we went to (opposed) game plan for lineouts. Girls were rather rusty so it was rather messy. Not all that bad though. We just need to re-adjust.

Wednesday 7th January: once again we started with ball handling skills then back to game plan. Line outs again. Looking loads better and we had fun too. Brenda gave Aggie a massive hand off. It was funny to see because Brenda is really short and Aggie is quite tall so up Aggie went in the air (her feet actually left the ground) and down she came again.

Friday 9th January: Soggy took the forwards away to work on scrum downs and the backs were left with Kasasa to sort out moves off scrums. We linked up with the forwards towards the end of the session and went through game plan from scrums. It was great. Firstly, things just clicked and we did our moves almost to perfection. Secondly, Justine made only 2 knock-ons the entire session and used that lethal pace of hers effectively. She crowned off her fine night when she executed that seamless step of hers that left me totally flat-footed. It was hard not to appreciate even if I looked like a fool. Nice way to end the week.

The squad in training:
Forwards: Christine Kizito, Aalliya Adania, Josephine Namayega, Claire Anena, Brenda Kayiyi, and Fortunate Irankunda.
Backs: Me (Helen Buteme), Prossy Nakakande, Justine Bayiga, Charlotte Mudooola, Hadijah Namuyanja, Joan Andika, Agnes Nantongo, Rachel Kakaire, Harriet Kayonjo, Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi, and Winnie Atyang.

Saturday 10th January: we started at 1pm. Mutaks and Soggy took us through ball handling and contact skills for one hour. It was so damn hot and the ground was baked dry. It was like concrete with tufts of grass sticking out of it. Painful.

We were given a 20 minute break after which we were split into 2 teams and we played two games. Soggy surprised Aggie and Prossy by switching them from the back line to the forwards. Aggie was told to prop and Prossy to hook. Luckily in 7’s it’s not that hard to switch from the backs to the forwards – they did quite a good job.
After the games, the dreaded ice bath re-surfaced. I’ve been exempted from it on medical grounds so I can watch the drama from the sidelines with dry eyes and a smile on my face. Surprisingly Brenda and Kayonjo got in for their 3 minutes of torture with hardly a squeak. Charlotte on the other hand screamed the entire 3 minutes and afterwards toppled out of the icebath cursing but no tears. That’s a step up for her.

Quick round up of 2008

2008-12-30T11:51:00.000+03:00

the lady cranes 7's team qualified for the inaugural IRB womens rugby world cup 7's to be held in dubai in march 2009.

me (helen buteme), mary kyoita, winnie atyang, christine kizito, prossy nakakande, brenda kayiyi, fortunate irankunda, charlotte mudoola, josephine namayega, aalliya adania, harriet kayonjo and rosenburg kanyunyuzi were the heroines in the world cup qualifying drama that occurred in september 2008.

a 19 woman training squad was assembled in october that had sauda adiru, dorothy nekesa, asha sonko, claire anena, rachel kakaire, agnes nantongo and uganda's track queen justine bayiga in addition to the world cup qualifiers 12 woman squad.

this month, we journeyed to south africa to play in the womens category of the nelson mandela bay sevens as part of their world cup build up. charlotte mudoola (exams), mary kyoita and josephine namayega (injury) were replaced by rachel kakaire, justine bayiga and asha sonko.

in the 6 team tourney we beat eastern province (the top SA womens province team) and the department of correctional services (14 - 00 and 24 - 00) in the pool stages. we then played south africa in a friendly and lost 40 - 00. yikes!!! huge score.

blue bulls gave us a scare in the semis going 10 - 05 up before half time. we made a plucky come back in the second half to win 15 - 10 and met south south africa in the finals. south africa won that game 36 - 00 but scoreline aside, we had made a huge improvement from the first game.

lady cranes had a training session with former south african 7s coach, norman mbiko and hene ncebe, the lady springboks fitness coach on sunday morning. it was a great session and we all loved it.

although we lost heavily to the springboks in both games we learned a lot from the tournament and we will use the experience to become a better team.

we are 'resting' (doing personal training) but we will meet on january 3rd for our first session in the new year.

please keep tracking us as we prepare for dubai.

thanks.

Posting on Lady Cranes renewed

2008-12-30T11:40:00.000+03:00

hi all,

i'd taken a brief sabbatical from blogging on the Lady Cranes 7s team but now i'm back. i'll be giving a week by week brief summary on our World Cup preps.

we had taken a christmas/new years break but we resume training on the 3rd january.

i'll keep you posted.