The 2024 Nile Special 7s circuit kicked off with a bang in Entebbe as underdogs caused major upsets, with traditional powerhouses KCB KOBs, Platinum Credit Heathens, and Stanbic Black Pirates crashing out in the quarterfinals.
It was the youthful Legends outfit, Rhinos, that stole the show, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. Coached by Martial Tchumkam, they clinched the title with a 17-5 victory over Toyota Buffaloes in the final.
Heathens head coach Mohammad Athio attributed the surprising results to the growing strength of the sport.
“The game is growing, and I have to credit coach Tolbert Onyango,” Athio said. “Rhinos had four players who have trained with the sevens national team, the same for Buffaloes, Walukuba, and Rhinos. Those players bring a wealth of experience to the team.”
Despite a dominant day one performance, Heathens faltered on day two, losing to Plascon Mongers and finishing fifth.
However, the tournament was not without positives, as new signings Denis Etwau and Timothy Mugisha impressed. Etwau was the team’s top try scorer with eight tries and 40 points.
Looking ahead to the next leg in Mbale, Athio is confident of improvement.
“We have worked on our kickoffs, retaining the ball, and moving forward with pressure,” he said.
The Mbale leg promises more exciting action, with defending champions Stanbic Black Pirates, 2022 winners Jinja Hippos, and KCB KOBs all looking to bounce back. The tournament will be held at Busamaga grounds and is free for fans.
