Mukasa, Najjumba not about to rest on laurels
When many consistently nodded their heads accompanied with several hand claps, it certainly felt right that all were worthy winners at the annual Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) Awards Gala on Thursday night.
This serene mood at Copper Chimney Restaurants hardly fluctuated as nine awards were dished out at the Castle Lite/Pepsi-sponsored event.
The evening climaxed with pundits’ favourite Roger Mukasa being announced as the 2015 UCA Male Cricketer of the Year in front of the elegantly dressed 200 guests. “I am extremely happy,” the smiling batsman told Sunday Monitor shortly after being crowned by chief guest Commissioner of Sports Omara Apitta.
“First, I dedicate this award to my fiancee Hajara Nabukenya,” he said while pointing at her. “Without her support, may be things would have been different. I also thank my friends, teammates and everybody who helped me got here.”
All-round performance
He beat three other nominees Hamu Kayondo, Irfan Afridi and Ivan Thawithemwira, having notched 797 runs in 13 innings, snared 12 wickets and clung onto 14 catches as his side Tornado Bee won their third successive National Men’s Division One 50-Over League title.
Mukasa, also voted 2014 MVP, was also fourth best batsman with 85 runs as the Uganda’s senior national team finished fifth at last year’s ICC World Cricket League Div. II tournament in Namibia.
Three-horse race
Meanwhile, Franklyn Najjumba pipped KICC pair Gertrude Chandiru and Consy Aweko for the Female MVP gong.
“Though I won this in 2010, I am really grateful to God for another award,” Najjumba said after receiving a standing ovation from her Pioneer teammates, the 2015 Women’s 40-Over League champions.
“It was not easy. I was consistent throughout 2015 with bat (an average of 42 runs per innings) and ball which I think gave me the advantage. Hopefully, 2016 turns out even better,” she concluded.
2015 UCA AWARDS
Male MVP:
Roger Mukasa
Female MVP: Franklyn Najjumba
Young Male MVP: Kenneth Waiswa
Young Female MVP: Ritah Musamali
Coach of the Year: Emmanuel Isaneez
Umpire of the Year: John Trust Mayeku
Best Volunteer: Ivan Thawithemwira
Best Groundsman: Julius Bukulu
Best Team Manager: Rita Tinka
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Cricketers thirst to be fully quenched at 2015 UCA Awards Night
Recognising individuals that excel in sports is not common in Ugandan sport. However, it’s not that rare. A few bodies including Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) do reward best performing sportsmen.
In the aftermath of last year’s edition, CEO Justine Ligyalingi assured the UCA Awards Gala would be an annual occasion like Christmas Day.
True to his word, the UCA Awards Gala are here again. Guests will converge at the Copper Chimney Restaurant in Lugogo to reward 2015’s best tomorrow night. The Gala has been spiced up with sponsors Nile Breweries and Pepsi. “We are grateful for their contribution towards the event,” Ligyalingi said. “With their support, we expect this to be a success come Thursday (tomorrow).” According UCA Development Officer Henry Okecho, shortlisted contestants will battle for nine awards.
The biggest of them all is Male Cricketer of Year gong whose contestants are 2014 winner Roger Mukasa (Tornado B), Ivan Thawithemwira (Challengers), Hamu Kayondo (Wanderers) and Irfan Afridi (KICC).
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Male Cricketer Of the Year
Female Cricketer Of The Year
Young Male Cricketer of the Year
Young Female Cricketer of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Team Manager of the Year
Coach of the Year
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Only time can get KICC better - Katkar
It is now close to two decades since Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) won the Men’s National Division One 50-Over League title.
That lull is attributed to several factors, some of which included a decline in interest among the club’s top bosses.
However, things changed two years ago when a rejuvenated KICC signed 12 new players. That propelled them to winning the Division Two title and earn promotion to the topflight.
Last year, the Sudhir Ruparelia-financed KICC were near relegation as they finished in sixth place.
And despite an opening five-wicket loss to holders Tornado Bee at Kyambogo Oval last weekend, KICC skipper Hanumant Katkar believes they can go on to win this year’s league crown.
“Look, we only lost to Tornado Bee because players weren’t that familiar with one another,” Katkar told Daily Monitor.
The 1998 winners KICC signed Cricket Cranes duo Arthur Ziraba and Frank Nsubuga from Tornado, Siraj Nsubuga joined from Challengers while Hamza Saleh returned from a year’s sabbatical.
Veteran Nsubuga struck four boundaries and two maximums in a 70-ball 41. But KICC managed to set a meagre 101 runs in 37.2 overs, a target Tornado Bee met inside 24 overs.
“All we need now is to alccamatise with with one another,” Katkar said, “Going by the signings and in comparison with other teams, we are bettered equipped in batting and bowling. Therefore, we should mount a bigger challenge this year.”
But while Ruparelia awaits his money’s worth in season dividends, KICC’s opponents won’t wait for them to gel. And thus another more competitive season is on the cards.
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Tornado Bee start chase for historic fourth title
At every turn, there is something new about the 2016 National Men’s 50-Over League.
What stands out most is the new five-team Division Three tier whose games will be played on Saturdays.
Fast forward up, the ardent cricket fans will witness new-look teams when the Division One contests get underway at three different Ovals today.
Tornado Bee will present the same hunger as they seek to win their fourth successive title.
The holders have stuck to all their old guards and a surprise recruit Deus Muhumuza from Tornado should bolster a perfect start against Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) at Kyambogo.
“The club management insists we go for it (the trophy) again and we’ll just do that,” Tornado Bee skipper Jeremy Kibuukamusoke told Sunday Monitor.
Big acquisitions
While they’ve added only one, KICC had several byes and buys during off-season. Of the inclusions, there is a massive capture of Arthur Ziraba and Frank Nsubuga from 2012 winners Tornado.
“Their experience is key if we are move from mediocre ranks to title challengers,” KICC’s captain Hamunant Katkar noted.
Interestingly, spinner Nsubuga leaves after 13 years at Tornado. “I needed to get the feel of change of environment and hopefully, we’ll start well against the champions.” he said.
Katkar’s smile can even go wider as top-order batsman Hamza Saleh is back in the fray having sat out last year.
Elsewhere, Wanderers are back to the topflight but the 2012 runners-up will be devoid of Hamu Kayondo who switched to join Challengers. His first task is comes up against his former side at Lugogo.
Expect veteran Wanderers’ coach Sam Walusimbi to cut that forlorn figure should Kayondo punish his bowlers.
Depleted Tornado, who also lost Cricket Cranes skipper Brian Masaba to Aziz Damani, will be the underdogs against last year’s surprise package Nile at Entebbe.
Men’s 50-over League
Today’s fixtures: 10:30am
Division One
Wanderers vs. Challengers Lugogo
KICC vs. Tornado Bee Kyambogo
Tornado vs. Nile Entebbe
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UCA offer clubs equipment ahead of season start
One reason why many youngsters ditch cricket for other disciplines is the inability to access the necessary equipment for the gentleman’s game.
Helmets, gloves, balls, bats and bails are costly and maintenance season after season is hard because they wear out easily.
To temporarily solve the problem, Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) have always been a key figure in this.
On Friday at Lugogo, UCA CEO Justine Ligyalingi handed over different equipment to the 20 clubs that will take part in the National Men’s 50-Over League which bowls off Sunday.
That’s thanks to UCA’s partners boost from Bankstown Cricket Club in Australia.
Each club received four pairs of batting pads, two helmets, three thigh guards, four abdominal guards, four pairs of batting gloves, a pair of keeping pads and gloves. At the event, Ligyalingi announced the launch of the new Division Three tier that will include five teams and will be playing on Saturdays. With Tornado B included, Division One comprises eight teams whose winner is guaranteed Shs5m.
Division Two with seven teams that will battle for the top two slots promotion worth Shs3m in total.
2016 NATIONAL MEN’S LEAGUE
PRIZE MONEY
Winner Div.I: Shs5m
Runner-Up Div.I: Shs2m
Winner Div.2: Shs2m
Runner-Up Div.2: Shs1m
Winner Div.3: Shs1m
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Plateful for Brookside Spartans as GNext Challenge resumes
An aggregate of 1,397 runs were scored in the opening six games of the GNext U-23 Challenge League a fortnight ago.
That’s about 232 runs per match. And if that is anything to go by, tournament architects Davis Karashani and Denis Musali should be delighted with that start.
With more progress anticipated in this league, there is a ray of hope that the batting Achilles heel that the pair battled during their respective national team careers will probably heal.
The GNext 30-Over Youth Challenge League returns today with the Brookside Spartans face the Blink Logistics Knights at Lugogo.
This is a battle between two respective coaches Roger Mukasa and Jackson Ogwang, who form a core of the Tornado B CC set up.
“We started well and want to keep the momentum,” said Mukasa.
His side is second on the table with four points having won two and lost once. “That defeat (by 54 runs) to Titans only helped us identify our errors,” he said.
Trusting batsmen
Just like the way he’s trusted with the bat in club and country stripes, Mukasa, too, trusts his batsmen mainly Rogers Olipa, Simon Ssesaazi, Innocent Mwebaze and Derrick Bakunzi to come good throughout the weekend that will see them play three back to back matches.
“That’s where our strength lies and if the runs flow, Knights are in trouble.” Mukasa added.
If the number of absent players reduces, Ogwang could better their 1-2 record. John Gabula, Abdallah Ssezooba and Emmanuel Hasahya will be key.
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Tornado B, Pioneer were supreme
Another year! Another trophy in the bag. 2015 did come just like the past two years for Tornado B.
The William Kibuukamusoke-founded club ensured the green and orange ribbons were maintained as Tornado B clinched their third successive National Men’s Division One 50-Over League title this year.
However, that triumph was something that appeared far-fetched during the infant stages of the season in April.
Epic Tornado B
Unlike before where they would usually pile opening nine-match winning streaks or so, the script was a bit peculiar this time. Skipper Jeremy Kibuukamusoke and company lost two of their first five matches.
Three and four-wicket respective losses to Tornado and Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) brewed heavy confidence in the chasing pack that included Nile CC and Kutchi Tigers.
The sudden change of things came when batting lynch-pin Roger Mukasa found sheer concentration and utmost efficiency with his striking and shot selection.
Such saw Mukasa pile four centuries and a total 797 runs in 13 innings that helped Tornado B win seven more matches.
The feat meant the Jackson Ogwang-tutored side became only the third team after Tornado (2003-05 & 2008-10) and Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) to win three league titles in a row. The latter won from 1996-98.
Unforgettable Nile
Beyond that, one cannot leap their eyes over the immense pressure Tornado B had had to wade off from Nile.
The 1995 League winners took a much respectable second place on 55 points, falling seven points short of glory.
And if tears are anything to go by, Nile’s captain David Musoke and fellow senior players had prior lost the Sixes Challenge and National Twenty20 League finals to Sudhir Ruparelia’s KICC and Patidar Samaj CC. Property mogul Ruparelia would have expected more from the newly formed KICC’s ladies outfit.
Sleek Pioneer
But in their maiden season, the Gertrude Chandiru-led team squandered a nine-match winning run to lose the National Women’s 40-Over League title.
The trophy too slipped out of another baby club Tornado B’s to end up in fellow Pioneer’s hands.
For a club almost disintegrated at the start due to inadequacies by Nigerian businessman Abraham Ashamu, Pioneer was in the shadow of KICC and Tornado B.
In the end, Barbara Mukankusi, Franklyn Najjumba and Carol Namugenyi helped Pioneer beat the latter by 11 runs at King’s College Budo ground for their maiden title on October 29. Crestfallen Tornado B ladies had earlier won the Sixes Challenge and missing the Mehta Premier League would not bother much their efforts to tidy their trophy cabinet.
Jinja retain Mehta T20s
KICC too missed the Mehta T20s’, leaving holders Jinja SS and Pioneer with a much clearer show at more silverware. Jinja SS defended their trophy in style by outwitting League champions Pioneer by seven runs in the Super Over decider on December 6. No better way to seal the local cricket season and hopefully, 2016 can close the gap between the weak and strong then throw up some more thrilling moments as well.
2015 winners
MEN
NATIONAL DIV ONE 50-OVER LEAGUE:
Tornado B
PROMOTED SIDES:
Wanderers, Patidar Samaj
SIXES CHALLENGES: KICC
NATIONAL TWENTY20: Patidar Samaj
WOMEN
NATIONAL 40-OVER LEAGUE:
Pioneer
SIXES CHALLENGES:
KICC
NATIONAL TWENTY20:
Jinja SS
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GenNext cricket academy want to improve the game in the country
It’s almost a year since Davis Karashani hang up his bat and glove from the Cricket Cranes national side.
His Twitter handle bio now reads: ‘RED - Retired and Extremely Dangerous’. Of course, Karashani’s right-arm off-spin deliveries were always cumbersome for batsmen.
Actually, the Tornado B player still bothers them in the men’s topflight league. Beyond that, Karashani still wants to be involved in the sport.
Together with 2006 ICC U-19 World Cup teammate Denis Musali, the pair started the Generation Next Cricket Academy - first-ever cricket academy for the sport in Uganda.
“During our time,” Karashani told Sunday Monitor, “We went through structures that some of the kids today are missing,” he said at the launch of the GNext Challenge Youth League at Lugogo on Friday.
“GenNext is not only here to help develop and expose talents of youngsters but also mentor them with several counselling sessions.” Karashani added. “This tournament is here as a platform to allow youngsters showcase their skills in competitive environment,” GenNext’s Musali said. The GNext 30-Over Challenge will be played by four different sponsored franchises in a round-robin format until February 6 at Lugogo Oval. The best youth players, aged 15-23, have been grouped in ABC Samurais, Brookside Spartans, Blink Logistics and Lakhani Motor Titans under the guise of qualified coaches. The respective tacticians are Micheal Ndiko, Roger Mukasa, Jackson Ogwang and Alvin Bagaya.
Action got underway on Friday with more action lined-up today.
GNEXT 30-OVER YOUTH LEAGUE
Today’s fixtures
9am: BL Titans vs. ABC Samurais
2pm: Knights vs. Spartans
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Generation Next Cricket Academy ready to hit ground running
There is no denying that Uganda has fallen on the international radar in recent times.
But all hope is not lost that the good old times can be reminisced.
From organising Two-Day games to having separate coaching sessions, the younger generation has taken it upon themselves to ensure Uganda dares to dream again. ‘Catching them young’ is the phrase coming off everyone’s lips in Lugogo.
Former Cricket Cranes skipper Davis Karashani and ex U-19 wicket keeper Denis Musali have held the bull by its horns and inaugurated Generation Next Cricket Academy.
On December 12, the partnered with the Rotary Club of Bugolobi, Naguru Provincial and Kololo to organise an Xmas BBQ Party for the kids that had regularly been undertaking drills with them.
This was part of their end of year activity of giving back to a group that is helping improve the lives of the youth.
Pesh Aloyo, the coordinator from the Rotaract Club of Bugolobi, urged the youngsters to live responsible lives by staying in school. “Avoid bad company and say no to alcohol and smoking,” she preached. Aloyo pledged that the rotary clubs will support the academy and its activities in a bigger way in the New Year.
Each of the kids went home with a gift hamper that comprised of home use necessities. Karashani and Musali, the founders of Generation Next Academy, thanked the rotaract fraternity for the generous offer. “We will invite you again in January when we host a youth tournament,” said Karashani.
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Jinja SS retain T20 title
Thrilling is a word inappropriately used many a time. But to say the Mehta Premier League T20 finale between Jinja Secondary School and Pioneer Cricket Club at Lugogo Oval on Sunday was overly exciting would be an understatement.
Jinja SS defended their trophy in style by outwitting this year’s National Women’s 40-Over League champions Pioneer by seven runs in the Super Over decider. It was that sort of day for coach Habibu Mugalula’s student-packed side that had earlier rallied to edge Sam Walusimbi’s Wanderers by four runs in the tense low-scoring semifinal duel.
But tactics and passion bettered experience and reputations as Mugalula’s girls showed a lot of character to equal the set target of 81 after they looked short of ideas at 58 for 5 in 14.3 overs. Captain ‘Fantastic’ Claire Mushakamba (17 off 21) and the well-built Dinah Adong (13 off 13) dug deep and ensured Jinja SS would live to fight one more time in the lottery that is the Super Over. It was the same combo of Adong (5*), Mushakamba (1) and best batter Rita Musamali (4*) that helped amass 10 runs in the Super Over before Musamali returned with ball to give away on three runs in five balls as Pioneer ran out of resources with the pair of Player of Series Pricco Nakitende (1) and Best Bowler Carol Namugenyi (0) run out to leave big-hitter Franklyn Najjumba stranded at one end.
“We got our tactics wrong in the Super Over,” Rita Tinka, Pioneer CC’s manager said. “We should have given the ball to a different bowler in the Super Over and we got our batting combination wrong too. At least everyone chipped in.”
For Mushakamba, the finale was won in the dugout. “Our tactics were better. Our coach (Mugalula) asked us to deny them singles and they played into our hands.
They were looking to go big and that is why they didn’t get more than 81. We are happy to end the tough year with a trophy.”
T20 MEHTA PREMIER LEAGUE
Results - Semifinals
Pioneer 64/7 Charity TF 61/9
Jinja SS 46/7 Wanderers 42/9
Final
Pioneer 81/6 Jinja SS 81/7
Super Over Decider
Jinja SS 10/1 Pioneer 3/2
Jinja SS win by 7 runs
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