The time is nigh… we must separate the boys from the men.†Those words could easily have come from the notebook of Rugby Cranes coaching director David Dobela before he named an elite squad of 38 players to prepare for the June 13 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia.
In the first indication he intended to take the national team to another level, Dobela called up overseas based professionals to bolster his side.
Tony Nyangweso who plays for Cartha Queens Park RFC in the Scotland Hydro Electric Premiership Division II and prop/hooker Gideon Kamya who plays for Bracknell RFC in England South West Division I come in to bolster the team.
Both have featured for Cranes before, with Nyangweso earning one cap in the Kenya Safari Sevens at the age of 19 before leaving the country for University studies. Gideon Kamya has been in the trenches with 12 caps. Uganda last utilised the services of foreign based players in the 2005 RWC pre-qualifiers when flanker Mathias Ochwo and tight- heat-prop Brian Makalama, then based at Raiders RFC in South Africa, were called in.
Left out of the team are key players Fred Mudoola, Victor Wadia and Steven Ogwete recently involved in the much- talked about assault by Kobs players on a referee during the Hima 10s.
In the absence of the three stars, Dobela knows that more than ever, the Rugby Cranes players have to be in top physical condition if they are to match the semi-professionals of Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles. Out will go the amateur training methods, and in will come a full professional programme that includes a three-month nutrition, strength and conditioning plan.
 Dobela has outlined an off season training programme that will be mainly based on strength and conditioning at the gym at Kabira Country Club.
A tentative programme for international trial matches includes a tour against a South African provincial side, a tour against Tanzania and not forgetting the hotly-contested Elgon Cup against rivals Kenya.
The elite squad of 38 players will also be split in two to form the back bone of two franchise teams that will represent Uganda in the East Africa Bamburi Cement Super Series.
Uganda, Tunisia, Namibia and Cote d’Ivoire are at the semi-final stage of the Africa Zone RWC qualifiers for the 2011 RWC to be held in New Zealand. The winner of the Africa Zone finals will be crowned CAR Cup champions and will also qualify directly for the 2011 RWC while the runner up will play a play-off match against a team from Europe of which the winner qualifies for the 2011 World Cup. Uganda are the defending CAR Africa Cup Champions.
The Off-season Squad
Forwards - Kenneth Mutabaruka (Kobs), Ronald Adigasi (Entebbe Mongers), Bobby Bibagamba (Pirates) , Brian Makalama (Pirates), Brian Odong (Kobs), Andrew Olweny (Impis), Paul Barigye (Kobs), Alex Mubiru (Heathens), Gideon Kamya (Bracknell RFC-UK), Mathias Ochwo (Heathens), Robert Seguya (Heathens), Moses Soita (Pirates), Timothy Dumba (Pirates), RodneyTuryatemba (Impis), Joel Anguyo  (Kobs), Roger Rukundo (Kobs), Drake Muyodi (Pirates), Gordon Chonga (Rhinos),Canowira Dan ( G4S Pirates)
Backs - Phillip Karumuna (Pirates), Anthony Kinene (Pirates), Allan Masiko Allan   (Kobs), Edmond Tumusiime (Kobs), Joel Kimuli (Pirates), John Musoke (Rhinos), Timothy Mudoola (Kobs), Dr Tony Luggya (Kobs), Michael Wokorach (Heathens), Allan Musoke (Kobs), Felix Lubega (Pirates), Jonathan Bishop Onen Obong(Heathens), Dennis Etuket (G4S Pirates), Richard Lumu (Kobs), Simon Wakabi (Kobs), Tony Nyangweso (Cartha Queens Park RFC-Scotland Div II), Lawrence Wakabi (Kobs), Byron Atubikire (SummerKamp), Chris Lubanga   (Heathens).
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