Be brave, be wise

The Rugby Africa 7s Cup, set to kick off on Saturday and Sunday, September 16-17 in Harare, Zimbabwe, presents a daunting task of defending champions Uganda Sevens, eyeing a successful title defence.

Their secondary objective is to secure qualification for the July-August 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

However, the even qualification to the Olympics is riddled with challenges, as Uganda faces formidable opposition from teams like Africa's top-ranked South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and the host nation, Zimbabwe.

The intensity of this qualifier is undeniable, and Uganda's journey begins with a morning clash against Algeria, followed by an afternoon showdown with Burkina Faso.

They will conclude the group stage with a must-win match against host nation Zimbabwe.

Despite the absence of two experienced players, Michael Wokorach and Timothy Kisiga, Coach Tolbert Onyango remains unwaveringly optimistic about his team's chances.

He firmly believes that his squad is well-prepared and capable of clinching victory in this high-stakes tournament.

"It is going to be tough, but we are ready. We are going to miss some experience, but all the players on the team are experienced and ready for the task," Onyango declared with confidence.

Team captain Ian Munyani shares this sentiment, exuding assurance in his squad's abilities.

"We are ready, and we are going for a win. The boys are in good moods and charged enough to bring glory," Munyani affirmed,” he said.

Among the experienced players that Onyango will rely on are Aaron Ofoywroth, Adrian Kasito, Philip Wokorach, Alex Aturinda, William Nkore, and the hard-tackling Pius Ogena, Nobert Okenyi, and Isaac Massanganzira.