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Sydney Gongodyo
The late Sydney Gongodyo, the Rugby Cranes and Black Pirates forward was laid to rest yesterday in his home district of Bulambuli.
At the age of 27, Gongodyo died on Friday, June 5, as a result of injuries he suffered, following a mob attack on him in Bukoto. Gongodyo, who left behind a one-year-old son and a wife was set to play for the Pirates in their first leg semi- final clash against the Heathens in the Nile Special Rugby Premiership last weekend.
That game was postponed to a later date to be confirmed. However, there has been speculation that it will be scheduled this weekend. There is no doubt that the Pirates have been greatly affected by this loss, seeing how emotional the entire team has been since news broke of their player’s passing.
Yet, Gongodyo’s brutal death may even have more far-reaching effects on the game. Perhaps for the rugby fraternity, it will be difficult to forget how warm and friendly individual Gongodyo was.
For many, they found him quite approachable and kind. Yet, when on the field of play, Gongodyo was a real bulldozer, as he was hard to stop when on the ascendance. Leonard Lubambula, the Rugby Cranes assistant coach said that Gongodyo is a major loss because he was starting to perform at his peak.
“He represented the success of our player development pathway. His absence leaves a gap in terms of experience, leadership and quality, which is reinforced by the importance to continuously develop young talent.” Richard Lumu, the director of rugby at Rams, and a former national team player, noted that because of Gongodyo’s build and size, he helped make up significantly for Uganda’s lack of size.
“He was the ball carrier that every coach would want on his team. Because of his height and size, he was not an easy one to stop. But at the same time, he was hard to go past,” Lumu said.
In addition, Lumu noted that Gongodyo, who could play as a flanker, lock or eighth-man, proved to be versatile. And considering that usually, forwards get better as they grow older, and gain experience, Gongodyo was yet to realize his actual prime.
There is no doubt, that the Uganda Rugby Union valued Gongodyo highly, and actually inducted him in the Rugby Cranes in 2023. The fact that he was sent to South Africa for a high performance programme, before he represented Uganda in the Rugby Africa Cup last year, confirms the potential they saw in him.
“He was good at set-pieces. He could cleverly carry and jump as well during the line-outs, which is a key aspect to winning rugby games, said Jude Rwakayanga, the coach of Ewes rugby club. Following Uganda’s failure to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, focus since shifted to the 2031 World Cup, and considering Gongodyo’s youth, he was a big part of the team’s plans going forward. It is hard to tell the state of mind in which the Pirates players, the defending champions of the league will be in when they return to action. Losing a dear friend can be difficult to contend with.
Already, the Pirates have decided to retire shirt No.7 that Gongodyo wore in his last game for the club, which was the final of the Enterprise Cup. Incidentally, Gongodyo was one of five Pirates players, who made it to the combined 15 between them and Kabras in that final.
His distinguished ball carrying ability, speed and craft normally made him a handful to many opponents. Combined with his muscle, getting into contact with him was not something easily bearable. In fact, it is as a result of his influence on the Pirates team that the team has had great success in recent years.
It is hard to forget his try against the Heathens in the 2023 season at Kyadondo, that decided the game. It was so important because the last time Pirates had won there, was before Gongodyo joined Pirates.
This did not only ensure that Pirates won the game 8-3, but brought home the team’s second league title as a result. At the time of his passing, Gongodyo had inspired two league titles, a sevens championship and the one Uganda Cup in 2025.
He also won the Victoria Cup with the Rugby Cranes in 2023. Put simply, while the former Namilyango College, Ndejje SSS and King’s College Budo old boy has had a short semi-professional career, it has been an illustrious one. That should make replacing him a tough job for his coaches.
But Pirates have many emerging talents, including more established players such as Humphrey Tashobya and Moses Zziwa, with whom Gongodyo has been competing for a berth in the starting team. Yet, what may be harder to replace, is his infectious smile!
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, https://observer.ug/sports/how-will-rugby-bear-the-pain-of-losing-pirates-gongodyo/
