adminSables at Hartsfield in Bulawayo tomorrow afternoon.
The game kicks off at 3.30pm.
The Cranes were expected to arrive yesterday morning but, due to unknown reasons, the Uganda Rugby Union changed their flight to today.
“Uganda are now expected in tomorrow (today) but they did not give any reason why their flight had been forwarded by a day,” said Zimbabwe Rugby Union administrator Yeukai Gandawa.
The Cranes would then have to travel by road to Bulawayo after having lunch in Harare.
This means if the Cranes leave Harare at 2pm, they would be expected in Bulawayo around 7pm, 20 hours before they take on the Sables who are already camped in the City of Kings.
Effectively, the Cranes will not have time to train at the match venue this afternoon, as is the norm, where every team should have at least one training session at the match venue 24 hours before kick-off.
But with the Cranes set to arrive in Bulawayo just before 8pm, this would be a perfect excuse for them if they are to suffer a second defeat at the hands of the Sables in less than a month.
Last year Uganda did not travel to Zimbabwe for the return leg of the same tournament – that is played on a home and away basis – following a bomb blast at one of the rugby clubs in Kampala.
Initially this game was to take place at Harare Sports Club but was moved to Bulawayo due to the triangular cricket tournament that features South Africa A and Australia A taking place at Sports Club.
Zimbabwe beat Uganda 25-15 in the opening leg of the Victoria Cup in Uganda three weeks ago and there are not many changes expected in the Sables side that beat Kenya 42-24 last week.
However, Uganda will not have most of their top players in Zimbabwe as they have withdrawn due to work commitments and injuries.
Reports from Uganda indicate that Cranes hooker Alex Mubiru is expected to lead his side against the Sables in the absence of captain Mathias Ochwo due to a rib injury injury and his deputy Timothy Mudoola who has work commitments.
On Tuesday, the team was also hit by the withdrawal of flanker Robert Seguya, centre Tony Luggya and fullback Simon Wakabi due to work commitments while Allan Musoke and utility back Anthony Kinene also opted out.
Mubiru is also a former Uganda Sevens captain leading them to a Plate win at the Kenya Safari 7s in 2006 and has also led the national team at Under-19 level.
Evans Kingasia – who only has two caps to his name – has been appointed the vice-captain and is confident that the team will rise to the occasion.
“Away games need character and the message to every player is to stand tall,” Kingasia said. However, the Sables are not moved by the events in the Uganda camp and yesterday remained focussed on the job at hand with manager Noddy Kanyagrarara naming the squad.
Zimbabwe Squad
Daniel Robertson, Gardner Nechironga, Cleopas Makotose, Daniel Hondo, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Tichafara Makwanya, Charles Jiji, Denford Mutamangira, Prayer Chitenderu, Brian Makamure, Schalk Ferreira, Costa Dinha, Shingi Mpofu, Njabulo Ndlovu, Norman Mukondiwa, Tatenda Karuru, Fortune Chipendu, Pieter Joubert, Jacques Leitao, Thomas Nelson, Dylan Bradshaw, Michael Coleman.
Coach: Brandon Dawson
Assistant: Cyprian Mandenge
Manager: Noddy Kanyangarara
Physio: Farai Muguwe, Abigail Mnkikwa
Uganda Squad
Starting XV: J. Onen, J. Kimono, M. Wokorach, E. Kingasia, D. Etuket, B. Kiiza, F. Gamma, S. Oluoch, A. Olweny, S. Ogwete, R. Ogwal, R. Mwisaka, D. Mugambe, A. Mubiru, R. Adigasi
Substitutes: S. Mawanda, B. Odong, T. Kabonero, R. Musajja, A. Matsiko, O. Kalyango, L. Wakabi.
Online Reporter