Kalungi Kabuye
28 July 2008
Kampala — TO millions of Madagascans, the last image they have of the Uganda Rugby Cranes is of players singing and dancing in the middle of their national stadium after that humiliating 42-11 home defeat in the final of the Africa Cup last September.
The image of prop Robert Adigas and others doing the 'kadodi' in the middle of their pitch probably rubbed salt into the wounds of a national pride that had just been destroyed by a bunch of Ugandans.
Madagascar is a small island nation and the average person is relatively small, but they have a passion for rugby that equals none.
Rugby is their passion and it is their national pride. On national television (the game was broadcast live), and with the president and his full cabinet in attendance, the much glorified Makis (their national team) had their noses rubbed into the dust.
That is the image they still have in their minds and it is what they will hope to erase as they take on the Rugby Cranes on Saturday in a 2010 Rugby World Cup qualifier at Kampala Club. It will be a grudge match, with both teams not giving any quarters.
The Rugby Cranes will remember the terrible treatment they had when in Antananarivo and the dirty tricks their smaller opponents used to try and stem the tide. To some of the players, it is personal, and it is pay-back time.
The Makis, on the other hand, will try and regain some pride as a rugby playing nation.
Thus a clash of titanic proportions is set to play out this Saturday. And be there to bear witness.
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