The curious case of Robert Seguya

Robert Seguya has contributed decisively to the success stories Rugby Cranes have enjoyed over old foe and close-door neighbour, Kenya, but it is safe to say that his performance in last weekend’s 13-19 Elgon Cup loss will be one the veteran will want to forget.

This year’s Elgon Cup coincided with the 11th anniversary when Seguya memorably kicked 20 points to guide Uganda to a 30-22 victory over Kenya in Nairobi. That was Uganda’s maiden win against Kenya. One of Seguya’s place kicks, incredibly taken from just inside the Kenyan half, added a definite wow factor. The win in a sense signalled Uganda’s arrival on the regional rugby stage. It was also a triumph over the odds. The disparity in size between the Ugandans and Kenyans back then had journalists knitting a common thread of David vanquishing Goliath in their post match reports.

Last weekend, there were no underdogs. If anything, Uganda went into the match as marginal favourites thanks to the 17-16 victory they picked up in the Kenyan capital. Yet when the referee’s final whistle ended the return leg’s proceedings with Seguya’s aimless kick cutting through the Kampala evening’s gentle wind, the scoreboard made for horrible reading on the part of Rugby Cranes.

Ten of the 19 points Rugby Cranes had ceded to the visitors were down to Seguya mistakes. At the stroke of recess, instead of carrying the ball out of the danger zone as he used to heroically do, Seguya’s unconvincing pass was intercepted. The swift passing move that ensued ended up with a Kenyan crossing the try line. It got worse for Seguya in the second half when he gave away a penalty right in front of the two sticks after misjudging the trajectory of a defensive Kenyan kick.

All of the stated Seguya mistakes pointed to the thirty-something lacking the legs. Seguya’s lack of legs -- so to speak -- has utterly changed the rugby persona he once proudly embodied. Gone is the kicker, the ferocious ball carrier, and flanker as well. We now have a player who can, with all due respect, be characterised as a quasi half-back.

Remarkably, despite the ravages of advancing age showing that Seguya should at best be a bit-part player, Rugby Cranes still choose to hand him an integral start-to-finish role. This, dear reader, is incomprehensible to your columnist.

Seguya might have rolled back the years with match-winning performances for his Toyota Buffaloes outfit in the league backdrop, but he is -- as paradoxical as this sounds -- on the wane. The waning of this loyal Ugandan rugby foot soldier shouldn’t invite ridicule on his part as much as it should the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) for failing to groom replacements.

Where are the replacements? They don’t seem to be eager to join the party, do they? Just as shocking as Seguya’s bad day in office was the forgettable showing of the Johnny-come-lately players.

The latter played for the crowd as Timothy Ddumba’s horrific tackle and Arthur Mukama’s equally vexing dive into the maul attested. With the Africa Cup beckoning, URU has to up its game sooner rather than later.