Buffaloes in progress for Hima-Mak 10s

Buffaloes are eyeing a more ferocious display when the region’s top rugby clubs meet in next month’s Hima-Mak 10s tournament in Kampala, Uganda. The confidence spills from the club’s intensive training sessions coupled with their recent heroics in Kenya.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Buffaloes are eyeing a more ferocious display when the region’s top rugby clubs meet in next month’s Hima-Mak 10s tournament in Kampala, Uganda. The confidence spills from the club’s intensive training sessions coupled with their recent heroics in Kenya.

Early this month, Buffaloes hit rugby headlines when they stormed the semi-finals of the Prinsloo Nakuru Sevens despite walking into the tournament as underdogs.

Two weeks down the road, the Remera outfit is eyeing a similar or an even better showing in Uganda where local clubs (Lion de Fers and Gorillas) have in the past failed to make an impression. To realize this dream, the club has resorted to a more detailed training schedule.

"We are now training four times a week and we believe we have the quality to pull off a few more shocks in Uganda,” Buffaloes’ forward Gerard Nsenga said.

The annual event recently received a further financial boost of Shs 5m from UAP, one of Uganda’s leading insurance companies to leave it Shs 15m short of the Shs 80m budget.

Of the 16 clubs expected to grace the two-day event, Kenya will field five clubs; defending champions Mwamba, Impala, Nakuru, Mean Machine and Strathmore University, Rwanda will field one club (Buffaloes) while the rest will come from the host country (Uganda).

Makerere University Hima Impis are the record champions with six titles to their name. The tourney runs from November 8-9 and Shs3.5m is at stake for the overall winner.

Ends