For the last 4 years (its been quick), how time flies i have been a member of this special team. I was vividly coerced out of my self imposed retirement from Club rugby by Chua who by then was captain of the team. I had gotten very frustrated by the team selection based on well boardroom decisions. I joined Mongers as a fresh faced youngster whose only previous experience of competitive rugby was University league and East African varsity games. I was very sceptical and I was also very cautious for I was afraid the price of failure would be so high. Luckily for me I found a team full of grown men who were not only willing to teach me the dark arts of competitive rugby but also other aspects of life and how to be a man. Mongers has since grown to Entebbe Rugby Club and I suspect may grow to a bigger franchise. In my first season we had a memorable victory over the Kobs which also sealed off any title hopes they were harbouring. It also for me was a victory of confidence in my abilities as a player since well I never thought my particular somatotype and skill set were suitable for this league. Well from then on we have played party spoilers ask Heathens who last season had all their league hopes shattered at our infamous House of Pain. We have had good times and trying times. I remember towards the start of the 2012 season when almost the whole team went AWOL due to work and school commitments and their and then I was thrust into status of senior player, we huffed and puffed most times barely making a squad of 15. Our worst season was rewarded by a barely competitive fight at the Semifinals of Uganda cup. A 4th place finish at the Sevens was so incredible given all the tournaments we were 8 players, a single substitute!!!!. I still laugh at that incredible feat of personal fitness since me, John, Biira all had to play for our Universities each Sunday after gracing our club colours on saturday. Well Kigongo Sebalamu (Ben) had his fitness notes right, Of all things I came to hate most about Entebbe rugby was the obsessive attention paid to fitness, (the joke is that their has never been a fat player at the club). I have never been in a better physical shape throughout my playing days even when I was feeding off ale on a daily. I hated those damn hills with a passion and some misguided attempt at rowing a boat had me swearing that my hands would only touch an oar if war broke out. However small I was the bigger guys seemed to carry their weight better. Olaro Oscar would come out of hiding tackle better, do better push ups, run longer and I would totally be dumbfounded. I also witnessed a birth of a new generation of players at the club but most specially who can ever forget the best moments when you actually run down to the lake to dip in after another startling performance at the House of Pain. I always enjoyed the Home games well first because all the opposition teams always accused us of being anti rugby and they arrived scared and it was always an advantage I capitalised on. Then Olaro Oscar granted me the biggest privilege of all. Serving on the board of management for the league, as usual I thought I wasnt up to task and many more obligations were sent my way. I was always scared of giving counsel just in case I managed to misfire and am glad many of my recommendations were taken up. I have never felt more worthy as a human being. I also boastfully remind everyone that I was the only unbeaten Captain of Mongers. Most memorably Impis went into a 13-00 lead at the House of Pain and somehow managed to botch it and up to now I never believe we stayed calm even when so much was going down. I also witnessed the starting up of the Ladies team for the club which in my belief is the future of growth of the club. I believe the ladies team has the potential of being among the best ladies sides in the world. They is general optimism as the team moves to their new headquarters away from the iconic Entebbe SS grounds which is always a bigger motivation but few contentious issues have to be resolved. - Have the issues of ownership and stakeholders, membership have to be resolved ASAP or the clouds will bring floods. - Player welfare, an average Super 8 player serves up to 25 rugby hours a week in an amateur setting. Clearly this isnt sustainable and all avenues should be made to look forward to a more rewarding player experience. To make a comparison most professional contracts offer up to 52 hours a week. Professionalism is a by word that should be looked at closely not for the players yet but management. - Entebbe rugby club hasnt yet started looking at the neighbouring community as a market, the club should be theirs and it will survive the thresholds it is now confined . - More exposure, Mongers has made many friends in and outside the nation they can always count on them for more outreach and capacity building. With this all said am very glad for the opportunity that this great club granted me and I wont shy away from any more commitments I can undertake on their behalf for me they are part of family. It is unfortunate that my other obligations cant allow me to train and perform as I used to so I think I made my swansong sometime ago but I will continue to enjoy rugby elsewhere and will also dread the homecoming as an opponent. MBOOKYA
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:39:45 +0000
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