Byron Oketayot has been named the new captain of Uganda’s Rugby Cranes XVs, replacing Ivan Magomu ahead of the Elgon Cup.
The forward, who will lead the team alongside vice-captain Conrad Wanyama, was announced in the 21-man squad revealed earlier today on NBS Sport, to face Kenya in the annual clash.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Oketayot, whose first international match was against Kenya in 2016, expressed his excitement at taking on the captaincy.
“My first international cup was against Kenya, and now my first game as captain is also against Kenya,” he shared.
“It’s an exciting moment for me. This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time. I’ve been inspired by the former captains; I always looked up to them, and it’s a great milestone for me.”
Oketayot acknowledged Kenya’s historical dominance in the Elgon Cup, having won 13 titles compared to Uganda’s three, but the new skipper believes Uganda has a strong chance this year.
Uganda edged out Kenya 21-20 in the Victoria Cup last year, thrilling home fans with a last-minute penalty from Liam Walker that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
However, Kenya’s Simbas regrouped for the second leg in Kisumu, where they secured a 20-13 win, clinching the overall title.
Reflecting on last year’s narrow aggregate loss, he said, “We have been knocking on the door. Last year, we won here but fell short by a few points in Kenya. We now know what to do and are fully ready.”
Oketayot also praised the team’s extensive preparation since their Rugby Africa Cup campaign, where they finished fifth.
“So far, we’ve been preparing well, with a decent training period towards this Elgon Cup. We’ve been polishing up on our areas of weakness from the Rugby Africa Cup, and the players know what to do this time,” he emphasized.
The Elgon Cup begins on Saturday, November 9, with Uganda playing the first leg away in Kenya before hosting the return leg on November 16.
Oketayot sees this as an advantage, saying, “Playing here last, our home crowd will give us that boost. Home advantage is always the best.”
Named after Mount Elgon, which sits on the Uganda-Kenya border, the Elgon Cup has become a celebrated contest between these two rugby-loving nations.
Alongside Oketayot and Wanyama, some of the players named in the squad include Emiemu Edward, Ogena Pius, Thomas Gwokto, Asuman Mugerwa, Charles Odong and Moses Zziwa among others.
