[Interview]: Kenya’s star Evelyne Kalemera speaks about playing rugby as a mother and family lady

Pulse Uganda Sports had a chat with Kenyan star Evelyne Kalemera Luganu, a utility prop ,player at Mwamba Rugby Football Club and above all, a family lady.

Who is Evelyne Kalemera?

Evelyne Kalemera Luganu is a utility prop, Mwamba Rugby Club player and I can play as a prop, eighth man and center when it comes to the worst of situations.

How do you rate the Uganda team?

Uganda are very tough opponents. It’s a not walk over. We’ve to fight to get it (qualification). Right from the backline to the frontline, they’ve have been in the sport for long. Uganda and Kenya are like a sibling rivalry and it’s not an easy thing.

[Editor’s note: Uganda won their first game against Zambia 36-17]

What do you do other than playing rugby?

Out of rugby, I am an assistant office administrator.

How do manage to keep fit with an office job? How is your daily routine like…?

I do morning runs at least 4 times week and then team training, usually three times a week.

They say champions are made behind closed door. I don’t wait for the coach to chase after me to do keep fit. I know my roles.

When did you join the sport of rugby?

I started quite late but they say for something you have passion, its really never too late. My elder brother used to play rugby and in 2015, I was out of employment and I went to him and asked whether they had a women’s team at his club. I followed him to the game and that was it!

How as the first experience?

My first experience… (laughs) I don’t want to talk about it but rugby is addictive.

When was your breakthrough into the national team?

In 2016, is when I started my journey with the national team and I have been part of the national team set up since Africa 15s started.

What are the challenges you face as a woman?

I’m a family lady. That is the first hurdle.

You are in a marital home and your husband knows you always have to be available yet at times yet you have new passion and have to be in for training sessions and return that…

So, the first challenge was directly on my personal life as a married woman.

The other challenge that I face as a woman in rugby is stereotyping; that the sport is for men. They think rugby is for men and all about physicality. Rugby is about brains and not just the physicality.

The support given to rugby [by authorities] is always like an afterthought plan. The support mainly goes to the men and for the ladies is they are not sure.

What keeps you going? Any words of encouragement…

If you want it go, go for it! Don’t look back.

What are your expectations from the tournament?

We are not underrating anyone in the tournament. We shall give every game the serious it needs. One game at time till the final whistle, we are in for a real fight. The key word is that we play as a team sport, rugby is not an individual sport. Maybe the best team win!

[Interview]: Kenya’s star Evelyne Kalemera speaks about playing rugby as a mother

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