LIFE WITH THE RWANDA SILVERBACKS (13.09)
Joseph Bugabo, Rwanda team
member, has written an account of his experiences travelling and playing with
the Rwanda rugby team that played in a CAR tournament in Arusha, Tanzania, in
August.
I guess the being stranded on first day was an omen of what
was coming regardless of the Rwandan (Silverbacks') high spirits.
We called Tinus Aucup who immediately sent a pick-up to ferry the team from
Mount Meru Hotel gates to City Link Hotel just about 300 metres away.
The team that comprised of 22players, its coach and 1 official had spent two
days on the road. It travelled to Uganda, moved overnight through Kenya and
arrived
in Arusha at about 15hrs exhausted.
However, due to determination to put up a good fight, the team after 1 hour
went for a light training session of mainly touch rugby.
Rwanda's game was after 3 days from arrival on Thursday 17th August 2006.
Burundi's game against hosts Tanzania was to be the opener on 15th August
2006.
However by midnight, there was no sign of the Burundi team
which had also travelled by road. We later learnt that they had been delayed by
the immigration
officials at the Namanga border who demanded for Visas from them.
The Burundi team managed to make it for their game which had to be pushed from
16hrs to 17hrs to give it time to recover a bit. Burundi put up a good fight
but could not stop the 60-3 hammering.
The Rwandan team under Fijian born Isimeli Mocevakaca, who trains it on a
voluntary basis, would wake up for a 2km walk and stretching session plus
training later in the afternoon.
Rwanda was sure of victory over the Burundi team come 17th August because of
it's wins and dominance in earlier encounters. Rwanda beat Burundi 15-5 in the
same tournament in August 2005. This was not to be this time round. The Burundi
team dominated the scrummages, rucks and line-outs forcing Rwanda to give away
so many penalties.
Burindi capitalised on these mistakes to convert three penalties against
Rwanda's two thus winning 9-6 in their favour.The Rwandan coach kept reminding
the team of the
Tanzania game and thus the need to remain focussed.
In the first 25 minutes, the game against Tanzania looked like it could go
either way but that's as far as Rwanda could hold on. Tanzania capitalised on
the fact that Rwanda's backs were sucked among the forwards leaving too much
overlap space for them.Rwanda's winger Asuman Ibonga's futile calls for support
fell on apparently deaf ears.
The score at half time was 39-00. The rampage went on in the
second half ending the game 71-8 more than double last year's encounter.
Rwanda's try came from blind winger Jean de la paix Hategekimana and a penalty
conversion from Man
of the Match in last years encounter against Burundi, Lucien Bikamba.
The Rwandan team was obviously dissapointed. However, from the coach's point of
view, it was a learning experience. He said that next time, the Rwandan team
will not
undermine any team and will take training sessions more seriously.
"You need to prepare physically, mentally and spiritually,"
Mocevakaca stressed.
Hopefully in the upcoming tournaments, the Rwandan team will take those three
elements more seriously.
Rwanda was invited for the Mombasa 7s rugby later this year by the Mombasa team
that played a friendly against Burundi on the same day of the final game.
The Rwanda Squad
Gerald Senga Remera Buffaloes RFC
Erick Mbarushimana Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
James Mugabo Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Jean
de la paix Hategekimana Nyamirambo Lions
de Fer RFC
Asuman Ibonga Remera Buffaloes RFC
Lucien Bikamba Remera Buffaloes RFC
Robert Nshyimiyimana Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Patrick Hodari Nyamirambo Gorillas RFC
Booker Karemangingo Remera Buffaloes RFC
Olivier Nikwigize Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Christian Muhoza National Univ. of Rwanda RFC
Joseph Bugabo Remera Buffaloes RFC
Abdul Ngongo Nyamirambo Gorillas RFC
Barnaba Imadi Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Evode Rukundo Remera Buffaloes RFC
Didier Kamanzi Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Janvier Bunani Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Jean Baptist Itanzi Nyamirambo Gorillas RFC
Suleiman Kabura Remera Buffaloes RFC
Give God Niyonzima Nyamirambo Gorillas RFC
Jean Baptist Mukiza Gikondo Sharks RFC
Innocent Ahorukomeye Nyamirambo Lions de Fer RFC
Coach: Isimeli Mocevakaca (Fiji)
Just a little editing by G.Carbines, rugbyinternational.net