Pirates vs Kobs with unbeaten record at stake 

The Stanbic Pirates rugby club remain the only unbeaten team in the 2023 Nile Special Premier League.

This follows another previously unbeaten side, Impis, going down to the Heathens 55-10 on match-day six, Saturday, February 18 at Kyadondo rugby grounds. However, the Pirates will have their unbeaten record tested this weekend at King’s Park in Bweyogerere when they host bitter rivals Kobs, writes JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE.

The Pirates sit atop the table standings with 28 points, following their 45-5 victory over the Rams on match-day six. But their winning streak has never been more threatened than it will be this weekend.

Pirates captain Ivan Magomu emphasized that as they prepare for Kobs, their thought process is not dwelling on the fact that they are the only unbeaten team in the league.

“Our focus is on how important the game against Kobs is for us, and how we must do everything in our might to emerge victorious,” Magomu said.

Meanwhile, although Kobs have also lost once, a 15-17 defeat they sustained at the hands of Heathens on match-day three, they remain second on the log with 21 points. That makes them a formidable force.

Yet, Pirates beat Kobs twice in the league last season, which, on the other hand suggests the psychological edge the sea robbers should have on the blue army. But Magomu said that Pirates is not looking at past meetings against the Kobs as a bearing to determine the possible outcome this time round.

“Kobs are a big team, and therefore games between the two of us are too close to call,” Magomu said.

While Pirates have not looked this stellar in a long time, bagging four bonus points so far, he certainly is not about to get carried away by the improvement they have shown. Former head coach, and now technical director, Bobby Musinguzi attributed Pirates’ good start to the season to the fact that even the younger players are coming of age.

The likes of Humphrey Tashobya, Umar Duff and Moses Olweny among a list of 20 or so, have been at Pirates for the last three years. Inevitably, cohesion and confidence has been built, following seasons of nearly misses.

However, Magomu feels that they continue to gel as a team by the day, with less school boy errors that have cost them in the past. And without doubt, the self-belief as a team is there. Nonetheless, rugby is a complex sport, whose results in most cases, are determined by fine margins, when giants clash.

This season, Kobs have collected the most bonus points, six. In addition, they have scored the most points total. Kobs’ points difference is 216 compared to Pirates’ 114. Heathens have a 120 points difference. Essentially, that points to the fact that Kobs have not only been solid defensively. But they also carry a huge offensive threat.

A Kobs win this weekend would mean the top three sides have lost to one another, leaving the championship up for grabs. Kobs would at least be four points behind Pirates on the log. Heathens, who have collected five bonus points to bring their total tally to 20 points face Rams, whom they are predictably expected to beat with a bonus point.

Heathens would come within four points of Pirates’ lead too. Yet, if Pirates beat Kobs, their grip on this year’s championship would have tightened. Going unbeaten for the first time would become a distinct possibility for Pirates, and they definitely want it more than they are willing to admit!

jovi@observer.ug