Black Panthers versus Wazee

Black Panthers has challenged the Ugandan veterans (Wazee) to a 15 aside game. The game will take place at Kampala Rugby Club, 5pm on the 5th of December.

To highlight how seriously the Wazee are taking this game, they start training today at Kampala Rugby Club at 6pm. The vets will hope to use their superior experience, skills and weight to subdue the cheeky Black Panthers. However, Black Panthers are counting on their fitness and agility to outlast the aging (aged) stars.

Wazee team manager, George Mbalu, is not taking any chances and has appealed to School of Nursing to provide 20 nursing students to back up the Uganda Rugby Medical Society medics whom he feels will be overwhelmed by the muscle pulls, severe fatigue and dehydration that he anticipates will plague his players.

The game will be played in accordance with the IRB laws of 15 aside rugby with a few amendments:

1) The game will be played in quarters i.e. there will be a beer break in each half (vets to determine the length of the break but not more than 5 minutes) as well as the usual 10 minute half time break.

2) Rolling substitutions will be allowed.

4) The vets may not push the scrum more than 1 metre (if that happens then a full penalty).

5) The vets may not drive the same maul continuously for more than 10 metres (if that happens then a full penalty).

At present there is no amendment 3 - it will be revealed in due course.

Next week I'll reveal the Wazee team ...

Black Panthers versus Thunderbirds - 21 11 09

The Black Panthers team

1. Fortunate Irankunda

2. Loy Mbabazi

3. Hellen Gizamba

4. Gladys Ayiorwoth

5. Angela Athieno (came off injured just after the 2nd half)

6. Aisha Bahanii - yellow card in 1st half

7. -

8. Claire Anena

9. Regina Athieno

10. Helen Buteme

11. Emma Oroma

12. Brenda Kayiyi

13. Beatrice Atim - BP MVP

14. Charlotte Mudoola - 1 try

15. Irene Namapii (came in just before the 2nd half)

Management

Becky keeping an eye on the girls.

Prossy shows her frustration at not being on the pitch - being down with malaria on a match day sucks.

Gina

Gina, our pint sized star player shows how it's done.

Gina, rests after the game.

Irene

Irene warming up before joining us to briefly take our numbers up to 14. Not a moment too soon because Angela got injured and we were back down to 13.

Becky hands Irene her forgotten mouthguard.

More action

Action

Sexy tackling.

Loy tackling.

Kickoff.

Scrums

Rose with the ball for Thunderbirds - Tiny Gina ready to harass Rose.
Heavyweight pack (~625kgs) versus lightweight pack (~458kgs): the wonderful girls on duty in the pack for Black Panthers

1. Fortunate Irankunda

2. Loy Mbabazi

3. Hellen Gizamba (Sexy)

4. Gladys Ayiorwoth

5. Angela Athieno

6. Aisha Bahanii

7. No one

8. Claire Anena

Despite being a lot lighter and one less (though when Angela got injured they were down to 6) the Black Panthers pack held their own in the scrums and managed to steal a few of the Thunderbirds put ins.

Lineouts

Hellen aka Sexy in the lineout

Beatrice our giraffe reaches for the sky - Fortunate (in front) and Angela (behind) lifting her

13 woman Black Panthers hold Thunderbirds to a draw

Black Panthers took on Thunderbirds yesterday in Entebbe in a curtain raiser game for the Super Cup. There was a lot of drama before we finally took to the pitch at 2.30pm. First off we had to do without the services of Yogi our first choice 8th man as her basketball team was in the finals of the basketball competition. Then Rose, one of our replacement locks had exams and Irene, one of our replacement backs had to attend a funeral so were down to 15. No problem until when I (Helen) got a text message in the morning from Neva (our flyhalf) that she was seriously ill and was unable to get out of bed. Now a slight problem. But I figured that we were fit so we'd handle whatever came out way although we'd miss Neva's fantastic kicking skills. Then Prossy, utility back and team captain informed us she had malaria and was unable to play. Ok, now that was the last straw. However, the girls were fantastic. They all committed themselves to play the game and promised to put their bodies on the line. And that is what each and every player did.

We started the game as 13 players and although Irene came just before half time to boost our numbers unfortunately Angela, our hard hitting lock, got injured and was unable to continue so we were back to 13 players. However, we were down to 12 for 10 minutes when Aisha got a yellow card for retaliating. Luckily for Black Panthers, Aalliya Adania the Thunderbirds flanker also got a yellow card for dirty play on Aisha so the Thunderbirds were down to 14. The Thunderbirds were further reduced to 13 when Evelyn Aweku was shown yellow for taking out Beatrice in the lineout which took some pressure off the Black Panthers somewhat. Later on in the game, Thunderbirds were down to 14 again when Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Emma.

After a scoreless first half, the referee awarded a try to Thunderbirds for what was clearly a knock on by Mary Kyoita in the in goal. However, Black Panthers hit back through a Charlotte Mudoola try right under the posts. I managed to miss the kick (unbelievable I know) and the final score was 05 - 05. The entire team was cursing me - still is actually.

Black Panthers soon had the crowd on their side for their pluckiness and the awesome display of rugby that they put up. The entire team played well but on this day the person who stood out the most was our lanky outside centre who was breaking the line at will and defending as if her life depended on it. She also doubled as a jumper in the lineouts and successfully stole a number of opposition lineouts.

Black Panthers woman of the match: Beatrice Atim

Random gym pictures

Brenda

Neva

Helen

Emma

Prossy

Irene

Regina

Claire

Charlotte

There are two pains in life; the pain of discipline and the pain of regret ... we'll take the discipline.

Susan Muyama, a Panther who at the moment is too far away to be with us shares with us ...

Girls, I am so glad to see how well all you guys are doing. You all look fit. I miss most the smell of the pitch. The wind in my ears and Claire's cheeky grins. The feel of playing on the wet pitch. I MISS IT! I MISS IT!

Gym, wow, Gina! You go girl. I can't say much but I thank God that you guys have made the choice to be different and take-over a male dominated arena. I hope to join next season. But looks like i'll get beat up on pitch. :-) i look forward to the pain. And the tries. God BLESS all you Black Panther angels. xxxxo!

Gym instructor Shao

He likes to say 'Don't break my heart, sweetie' when one is on the verge of giving up. If that doesn't work he says, 'I'm going to kill you girl'. Either way, he gets his way.

Irene doing her favourite exercise

Hack squats - the only exercise Irene does without squealing.

Beatrice shaping her legs

The path to shapely legs is a steep one ...

Euro Panthers versus Pound Panthers

Black Panthers split into 2 teams (Euros & Pounds) to play against each other during the Kitaka Memorial 7's last weekend. It came down with rain just after our game started but despite the wet ball and slippery conditions we were still able to entertain spectators with slick moves, hard running and big tackles. Euros won the game 15 - 00.

Euros (in white)

Fort, Emma, Gladys, Claire, Charlotte, Beatrice, Irene.

Pounds (in blue)

Rose, Aisha, Sexy, Gina, Brenda, Helen, Neva, Loy.

Regina striving to put on some much needed muscle mass

Gina (weighing in at 44 kgs and less than 5 feet tall) is the tiniest but one of the most lethal members of the Black Panthers squad. The speedster has recently begun a campaign to hit 50 kgs before she turns 18 at the end of next year. Here she works at alternating dumbbell presses to fill out her arms. Good luck Gina!