Buffaloes mark new era after return to National Rugby Premiership final
The Buffaloes booked an early ticket to the final of the National Rugby Premiership, defeating Makerere Impis with an aggregate of 48-23. Since the return to the playoff format of the league in 2024, the Buffaloes had only managed two quarterfinal finishes. At the 3rd time of asking, the Buffaloes have not only broken the […] The post Buffaloes mark new era after return to National Rugby Premiership final appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Black News 
The Buffaloes booked an early ticket to the final of the National Rugby Premiership, defeating Makerere Impis with an aggregate of 48-23.
Since the return to the playoff format of the league in 2024, the Buffaloes had only managed two quarterfinal finishes. At the 3rd time of asking, the Buffaloes have not only broken the semifinal ceiling, but have returned to the final, since losing out to the Heathens in 2013.
The revamped Buffaloes are a team largely composed of young, exciting and future talents to look out for. But the seasoned campaigners have equally stepped up and pushed the Buffaloes to the finish line.
Flare in the backs
The Buffaloes have figured out their halfback pairings, with Emmanuel Odong deputising Hussein Shein, who has been a reliable servant at scrumhalf. Shein has strategically been coming off the bench to provide tempo and balance to a Buffaloes team that comes alive in the second half.
Humphrey Ndahura is a cheeky backliner who has hurt teams from scrumhalf, flyhalf, center and fullback. He has enjoyed the backline, thanks to the immense talent the Buffaloes have in that department. Against Impis in the first leg, Ndahura was at 15, with Yasin Waiswa exchanging play-making duties with him. In the second leg, he started at 9 and created that memorable try for Daniels Otim.
In the midfield, Kennedy Muhumuza has settled in at 13 and is comfortable playing with whichever inside center is available on game day. He perfectly embodies Buffaloes’ astute business acumen in the transfer market, as they’ve brought in players like Waiswa, Owen Mugogo and Moses Olweny to improve their backs.
The resilient forwards
The Buffaloes front row boasts of three stable hookers in Meddie Abdallah, Godfrey Ayebale and Ronald Kanyanya, who have in some fixtures featured on the same match day team sheet. Rodney Takan, Eddy Obalim and Leonard Ndiku have been the go-to props for the Buffaloes, with Arthur Akampa coming in every so often against lesser opposition.
The signing of Titus Oyoo and the resurgence of Joseph Teeko have greatly improved the Buffaloes in the second row, especially at the set piece. These two players are reliable jumping options in the lineout, and in open play, they are tireless workhorses. Their inclusion has moved Douglas Musoke to the back row, who in return has pushed Aaron Wanyoto to the bench.
That loose forward combination of Musoke, David Bajjananseko and Raymond Kiguwa has paid dividends for the Buffaloes, and now they remain to be tested for the last time this season, in the final.
The post Buffaloes mark new era after return to National Rugby Premiership final appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
