Stanbic Black Pirates are the current men’s leaders after three rounds of the 2024 Nile Special 7s Series. They won back-to-back Cup Finals in Mbale and Kyadondo before the series took a break this week.
The Sea Robbers had a calamitous start to the series. They lost three straight matches on their way to finishing seventh during the first round in Entebbe. But they have steadied their ship and steered their way back to the top.
This is the composition of the squad which has restored Black Pirates’ dominance over the country in men’s 7s rugby.
| Entebbe 7s | Mbale 7s | Kyadondo 7s | ||
| 1 | Desire Ayera | x | x | x |
| 2 | Mubarak Wandera | x | x | x |
| 3 | Isaac Massanganzira | x | x | x |
| 4 | William Nkore | x | x | x |
| 5 | Jones Kamiza | x | x | x |
| 6 | Allan Karuhanga | x | x | x |
| 7 | Roy Kizito | x | x | x |
| 8 | Mohammed Haruna | x | x | x |
| 9 | Joshua Engwau | x | ||
| 10 | Douglas Komakech | x | x | x |
| 11 | Jeremiah Josenu | x | ||
| 12 | Raymond Okello | x | ||
| 13 | Moses Olupot* | x | ||
| 14 | Alex Aturinda | x | x | |
| 15 | Eric Mulamula | x | ||
| 16 | Arnold Atukunda | x | x | |
| 17 | Kieron Erem | x | ||
| 18 | Timothy Kisiga | x | ||
| 19 | Stephen Alul | x |
Isaac Massanganzira leads the squad with a cast of his fellow Uganda Men’s 7s internationals; Desire Ayera, Alex Aturinda, William Nkore, Mubarak Wandera, Roy Kizito, and Timothy Kisiga; and hot young talent in Jones Kamiza and Allan Karuhanga.
The Sea Robbers have also sought inspiration from veterans Haruna Mohammed, Eric Mulamula, and Stephen Alul. And they have fringe players like Douglas Komakech and Arnold Atukunda to provide cover across the board.
Pirates enjoy not only an extended squad depth but a quality one too. Perhaps the deepest and most experienced of the entire series.
“The series is going to be interesting. You cannot write them (Heathens) off. I see also KOBs today brought in quite a number of their national team players, and that is making it more spicy… Walukuba is up there, Rhinos is up there knocking on the doors. So in this race, the marathon we are running, the series is going to really test the depth of all the teams,” coach Robert Musinguzi said to Kawowo Sports during the Kyadondo 7s post-match interviews.
The question on everyone’s mind now is: does anyone have the resources to stop Black Pirates from defending their Nile Special 7s Series title this year?
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