Uganda 7s Head Coach Tolbert Onyango has unveiled his 12-man squad for the final leg of the Challenger 7s tournament, scheduled to take place in Munich on May 18-19, 2024.
The squad sees significant changes, with seven key players rested ahead of the Olympic Repechage set for June 21-23, 2024.
Uganda 7s players rested
Among those rested are Pius Ogena, Desire Ayera, Isaac Massanganzira, Adrian Kasito, Aaron Ofoywroth, Timothy Kisiga, and team captain Ian Munyani.
This move allows the key players to recover and prepare for the crucial Olympic qualification event next month.
Returning to the Challenger 7s are Alex Aturinda, Davis Shimwa, William Nkore, Roy Kizito, and Denis Etwau, who also played in the previous tournament in Uruguay.
Joining them are the new inclusions: Timothy Mugisha, Aaron Tukei, Nobert Okeny, Mark Osuna, Allan Olango, Mubarak Wandera, and Karim Arinaitwe.
In the men’s competition, Uruguay, who currently leads the standings, is in Pool A alongside hosts Germany, Georgia, and Papua New Guinea. Hong Kong, the silver medalists from Montevideo, joins Uganda, Tonga, and Mexico in Pool B.
Pool C features Kenya 7s, who are currently second in the standings, alongside Chile, Portugal, and Japan.
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In the women’s category, event leaders China are set to face Thailand, Hong Kong China, and Czechia in Pool A. Argentina, currently second in the standings, joins Uganda, Paraguay, and Papua New Guinea in Pool B. Pool C comprises Belgium, Poland, Kenya, and Mexico.
The Munich tournament marks the final leg of the 2024 Challenger 7s competition, which offers a pathway to the prestigious HSBC SVNS in 2025. The top four placed men’s and women’s teams from the Challenger series, based on cumulative series points, will qualify for the high-stakes relegation play-off at the HSBC SVNS Grand Final in Madrid on May 31-June 2, 2024. These teams will compete against those ranked ninth to 12th from the HSBC SVNS 2024 for a spot in the 2025 series.
Uganda 7s squad
1. Alex Aturinda 2. Timothy Mugisha 3. Shimwa Davis 4. Tukei Aaron 5. Nkore William 6. Nobert Sexton Okeny 7. Etwau Denis 8. Mark Osuna 9. Karim Arinaitwe 10. Olango Allan 11. Roy Kizito 12. Mubarak Wandera Mgt: Tolbert Onyango: Head Coach Allan Otim: S &C Coach Asiimwe Samuel: Physio Wandera Michael: Team Manager
