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UGANDA COUNT ON VETERAN STARS TO SHINE AT WOMEN’S 7S

Uganda's Lady Cranes 7s coach Charles Onen banks on a proven, experienced squad for the Rugby Africa Women's Cup in Nairobi. The team is boosted by the return of former captain Peace Lekuru from England.

Uganda Count on Veteran Stars to Shine at Women’s 7s
Peace Lekuru returns to Lady Cranes 7s training camp - COURTESY/PHOTO

The Lady Cranes coach, Charles Cyphus Onen, has relied on experience to deliver gold at the November 15–16 competition at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, as the Rugby Africa Women’s 7s Cup draws near.

This temporary team is a wonderful fit for the coach's assessment of the team as tried and tested. 

Since we had a very short amount of time to prepare for the Rugby Africa Women's Cup, we decided to stick with that 18-player group to gain experience.

"We think it is a very limited window for them to try and prepare for this competition, but a couple of young girls [in the National 7s] threw up their hands and they truly have the potential," Onen said.

"For now, we selected those final 18 because they are proven and tested, but we may go back to the drawing board and attempt to find room for the new girls and see how they can fit into the system," he continued.

Peace Lekuru, a former captain of the Lady Cranes 7s, has returned to the team after playing rugby league for York Valkyrie during the summer in England. This is a welcome comeback for Coach Onen, the team, and Ugandan supporters alike.

"She is a valuable member of the team and a hard worker with a high output," he said.

"She has been at these stages before, she has played at the greatest levels, and I think her coming back into the squad is one of the things that may strengthen the team," Onen said, underlining Lekuru's experience. In addition to her leadership and the work ethic we anticipate from her as we enter the Rugby Africa competition, she also infuses the team with positive energy.

Coach Onen was pleased with the team's performance and identified some positive aspects of the game, even though they played without Lekuru and placed second at the Safari 7s.

It was incredible to watch how the females stood up for one another, believing that it was their chance to show off and that they could fill in if one or two other players were not available. Our goal is to assemble a team that can represent the nation without depending on any one player. That was among the many wonderful features of the Safari 7s that I found appealing," he said.

Before they depart for Nairobi next month, the Lady Cranes will continue to train at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds till the final team is announced. They began training there on Wednesday of this week.

LIFE AFTER OKELLO: HOW ABDULKARIM WATAMBALA BECAME VIPERS' NEW MIDFIELD COMMANDER

Vipers SC dismantled Police FC 4-1 at Kitende, led by a stunning AbdulKarim Watambala goal to extend their lead at the UPL summit.

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Watambala’s screamer against Police trending as UPL Goal of the Season

Vipers came out flying, up 3-0 by halftime against a stunned Police squad. Once again, AbdulKarim Watambala pulled the strings in midfield, making everything tick.

With this 4-1 thumping at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Vipers held onto their three-point lead at the top of the Startimes Uganda Premier League heading into the last games of the first round.

Honestly, what was supposed to be a top-of-the-table clash turned into a breeze for the defending champions. They probably played their best half of football since Ivan Minnaert took over as head coach last July.

Watambala, who’s looked like a new man since his close friend Allan Okello left, set up the opener for Milton Karisa with a clever through ball. Karisa made no mistake, poking the ball past a scrambling Mathias Muwanga in the 32nd minute.

Then came the moment of the night. Watambala picked up a pass from Enoch Ssebagala just outside the box, and with police defenders backing off, he smashed a rocket in off the underside of the crossbar. That was his third goal in two games, after his brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over URA.

Right before halftime, Odili Chukwuma put the game to bed, heading in Usama Arafat’s cross after nutmegging Richard Matovu.

Police barely threatened all evening, but Saidi Kyeyune managed to pull one back with a low shot just four minutes into the second half. It didn’t matter much. Vipers stretched their lead again in the 77th minute, when substitute Yunus Sentamu headed the ball across for Usama to tap in their fourth.

The win pushes the Vipers to 33 points. Police drop to third with 27. KCCA move into second place after brushing aside UPDF 4-0. Sammy Ssebaduka grabbed two goals, with Joel Sserunjogi and substitute Alpha Ssali also on the scoresheet.

UPL UPDATES: KCCA FC HELD IN LUZIRA WHILE POLICE FC CLOSE THE GAP AT TOP

Police FC move to second after beating Calvary, while KCCA is held to a goalless draw by Maroons in a rusty MD13 clash.

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Vipers, KCCA, and Police tied on points

After beating Calvary, Police moved up to second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League. KCCA didn't score against Maroons, and Entebbe UPPC beat UPDF, keeping the title race close on match day 13.

Police grabbed second place in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League after a 2-0 win against Calvary at Kiira Road on Wednesday.

Breaks during the season are usually a time for teams to regroup and let players rest after many games in a short time. But for the Uganda Premier League, there hasn't been much going on since mid-December, partly because of the 2025 AFCON.

Today's game between Maroons and KCCA in Luzira was different. Both teams seemed out of practice, which might explain the dull game that ended with no score.

Neither team seemed ready to push for a win, and there were few chances to score.

KCCA and Maroons each played one game between December 17 and today, losing to Police and Buhimba United Saints, respectively. That's just one game in 35 days.

Maroons played a physical game, preventing KCCA from controlling the ball and playing their usual style. This could be why coach Brian Ssenyondo took out Ashraf Mugume and Saidi Mayanja at halftime, replacing them with Brian Jjara and Derrick Nsibambi.

The home team kept KCCA away from the goal, and even when they brought in another striker, Emmanuel Anyama, later in the second half, they didn't get many chances.

Maroons defended well as a team to earn a point, putting them in seventh place with 16 points.

For KCCA FC, this result is a setback in their chase for the title. They are tied for first place with 27 points, the same as Police, who beat Calvary FC, and Vipers, who have two games left.

Wednesday's results:

Maroons 0-0 KCCA

Police 2-0 Calvary

UPDF 0-1 Entebbe UPPC

Premier League Standings

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