Damani dismantle Charity to go top of Jazz Safari National Cricket League
Aziz Damani hurried Charity Trust Fund off the oval for their second successive win to go top of the Jazz Safari National Cricket League by eight wickets at Kyambogo Oval with 13 points after three matches on March 26.
Their closest chasers Challengers, recovering from their last outing setback where they went down by nine wickets to Damani, bridged the gap to one point in an equally ruthless manner with an eight-wicket win over sorry Patidar Samaj at the lakeside Entebbe Oval. But Division II graduates Damani, who lost their opening game to Tornado Bee, own the bragging rights for now after recovering to pick up two wins on the bounce.
On Sunday, they bowled out a student-packed Charity Trust Fund for a basketball score of 47 thanks to classy seam-bowling spells of 6/17 and 3/17 from Man-of-the-Match Kenneth Waiswa and rejuvenated Emmanuel Isaneez. Charity didn’t help their cause with carefree batting as witnessed by their top order batters Simon Ssesaazi (17 off 23) and Varinder Singh (12 off 29) who gifted the opposition their wickets cheaply after getting starts.
Damani top order batters Arnold Otwani (16 off 15), Emmanuel Hasahya (13* off 22) and coach-player Steve Tikolo (8*) survived a few scores on their to victory inside nine overs.
Across town in Entebbe, national team trainees Irfan Afridi (4/1) and David Wabwire (4/12) partnered to bowl out Patidar for 40 before Mohammed Aneef (18) and Arthur Kyobe (12*) breezed home in just four overs. In Jinja, Amos Kyazze and Emma Odeng helped Africa Cricket Club get off the mark with a 44-run win over JACC.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Division I
Nile 189/9 K.Tigers 142/10
Charity 47/10 A. Damani 48/2
Patidar 40/10Challengers 41/1
Division II
Africa 173/8 Jinja SS 129/8
K. Pirates 157/10 Mwiri 82/10
Division III
Nyakasura 178/10 JACC 75/10
By INNOCENT NDAWULA & DARREN ALLAN KYEYUNE
Damani up for genuine Challengers
While both teams have already been tipped by the bookmakers, Challengers and Aziz Damani have had contrasting starts to the 2017 Jazz Safari National Cricket League.
2016 runners-up Challengers were inspired by Arthur Kyobe’s 127-ball 108 century knock as they cleaned out the cobwebs and dust with a season opening 218-run win over Nile a fortnight ago.
To the contrary, Damani were welcomed to the topflight with a four-wicket loss to holders Tornado Bee last Sunday. For all Damani CEO Siva Koti’s investment, losing two in a row is an unacceptable.
Hence, star-filled Damani must break the duck against all odds when they meet Challengers in a highly-billed contest at Kyambogo Oval today. “After we lost to Tornado Bee,” Damani’s all-rounder Brian Masaba recollects, “We realised we can beat Challengers if we correct our mistakes. Our fielding was not up to scratch,” added the Cricket Cranes vice captain.
The 2017 UCA Super Cup champions Damani carelessly gave away runs in field, dropping catches in the process as Lawrence Ssematimba’s captivating half-ton of 50* off 86 helped opponents crawl to victory.
Ssematimba’s experience will be vital again as Tornado Bee face Nile in Entebbe.
Damani have added retired national team batsman Benjamin Musoke and off-spinner Fahad Sadiq. The latter will cherish the battle against his former club Challengers, who want to make it two in two.
“Damani are stronger opponents than Nile but we have the ammunition and must deliver,” Challengers’ left-armer Henry Ssenyondo said.
In Lugogo, Kutchi Tigers will face newly-promoted Charity Trust Fund - the first match for both clubs this season. Tigers, whose target is to make the top two, have signed former Patidar Samaj captain Ankit Patel and Shantilal Raghvani.
On the other hand, the Lawrence Ssempijja-led Charity have struggled to retain the services of Singh brothers Narindrer and Varinder.
They will bank on newly-recruited youngsters Ashraf Ssenkubuge, David Wabwose and Joseph Byaruhanga plus Ronald Opio, Simon Ssesaazi and Cricket Cranes star Jonathan Ssebanja for an opening day victory.
JAZZ SAFARI NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE
TODAY AT 10.30AM - DIVISION ONE
Nile vs. Tornado Bee, Entebbe
Kutchi Tigers vs. Charity TF, Lugogo
Challengers vs. Aziz Damani, Kyambogo
Tornado Bee vs. Nile, Entebbe
DIVISION TWO
Wanderers vs. SKLPS, Budo
Jinja SS vs. Tornado, Jinja
Fixtures for the Jazz Safari National League 1st Round - 2017
Familiar start for Kyobe as Challengers run amok in league
The flow of runs on Day One of the Jazz Safari Division I National Cricket League was evidence there was hunger for action by the players.
The league start which was arguably the most delayed witnessed nearly 500 runs as Challengers began their title quest with a commanding 218-run victory over Nile at Lugogo Oval on Sunday.
It was a ruthless display from Challengers where their bowlers showed as much desire for the gentleman’s game as the hard-hitting batsmen.
The highlight of it all was Challengers’ opener Arthur Kyobe, who fashioned a familiar start to his season with a calculated ton of 108 runs.
“It’s a great way to start after all the hard work in the nets and gym,” said a smiling Kyobe.
“The wicket was tough to play on at the start but I slowly gelled in,” the former Tornado player said.
Since joining Challengers in 2014, Kyobe often starts the season with big knocks but eventually fades. He thinks things will be different.
“I pray I can balance the equation this season. National coach Steve Tikolo has really helped me and I maintain form until the World Cricket League Division Three event,” added the 28-year-old.
Donning a new black and light green kit with a new jersey number 225 - his highest career score, left-hander Kyobe struck 15 boundaries in his 127-ball innings that ended when he was caught by Ivan Baidhu off Samuel Mwanja (3/55) after 33.2 overs.
Regardless, he combined well with fellow opener Hamu Kayondo (88 off 95) to put up an opening stand of 206 runs. New signings Kamal Shahzad tightened the loose ends with 29-ball 43 whereas Irfan Afridi’s late quick-fire 50 off 22 helped Challengers set 354 runs.
Afridi (4/28), Henry Senyondo (2/20) and new boy David Wabwire (2/48) shared wickets for fun as Nile folded for 136 in 25 overs.
Meanwhile, Tornado began new life in the second tier with a close shave. Henry Okecho’s side pipped careless Strikers by 10 runs with 28 balls to spare at Kyambogo Oval. Strikers needed 70 runs to win with seven wickets in hand but they bottled it.
JAZZ SAFARI NATIONAL LEAGUE
WEEKEND RESULTS
DIVISION ONE
Challengers 354/7 Nile 136/10
(Challengers won by 218 runs)
DIVISION TWO
Tornado 185/7 Strikers 175/10
(Tornado won by 10 runs)
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Revamped Aziz Damani spread wings beyond cricket borders
Like many Asian-oriented clubs, Aziz Damani has attained commendable success within the short spell spent in the Ugandan cricket ecosystem thus far.
Only formed two years ago, Aziz Damani Cricket Club boast of four honours.
The latest is the UCA Super Cup title after the 2016 Division Two champions beat topflight kings Tornado Bee by five wickets won at Lugogo Oval on Saturday.
The challenge with most of these clubs is they fade away with time and some go extinct like Destroyers. However, Aziz Damani CEO Siva Koti Reddy opines otherwise.
“We want to stay here for a long haul like Tornado and Wanderers,” Koti said shortly after the win over Tornado Bee.
He went on to further announce Damani will become a sports club under a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) status and stretch its tentacles to other disciplines like tennis, football and badminton.
“Our plan is to adopt a school which is not under good conditions and make it with better facilities like good toilets and proper benches,” Koti explained.
“We intend to get them a good playing ground which in turn can encourage youngsters in villages to play. In 2018, we hope to have laid ground for a football club that can compete in the local league tiers.”
New signings
Shortly after, Koti unveiled club new signings in Kenneth Waiswa from Nile and Emmanuel Isaneez from Patidar Samaj. “Satisfaction will come if we win the topflight league this season.” Koti added, similar words echoed by club’s senior player and Cricket Cranes vice captain Brian Masaba.
Prior, medium pacer Waiswa had picked 3 for 20 and Kenyan veteran Steve Tikolo snared 3/16 as Damani bowled out Tornado Bee for 106 runs in 40 overs.
The latter returned an unbeaten knock of 32 runs off 33 balls to give Damani victory with five wickets in hand.
Damani is the most sponsored club with partners in Gittoes Pharmaceuticals, Duke Water, ABC, Ketan Shukla, Balaji Group East Africa, SR Group, Dembe Enterprises, KLR Uganda and Subhagruha India PVT.
UCA SUPER CUP
Tornado Bee 106/10 A. Damani 107/5
(Aziz Damani won by five wickets)
AZIZ DAMANI TROPHY CABINET
2017: UCA Super Cup winners
2016: Kishor Pabari Memorial champions
2016: UCA National League Division II winners
2015: Night Cricket Tournament champions
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By INNOCENT NDAWULA & DARREN ALLAN KYEYUNE
Ssenyondo, Nampiina, Apio shine as Tornado Bee is crowned
When new Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chairman Bashir Ansasira cut a relaxed pose at Lugogo Oval on Saturday, it was not that comfortable as it appeared.
Deep down, Richard Mwami’s successor felt the then ongoing annual UCA Awards could have been better.
Well, understandable, the awards ceremony would have graced a hall with the fraternity in suits and dresses like previous editions. But those in the hierarchy noted that there wasn’t much time to organise a glamorous event following the recent transition and happenings in UCA.
That though did not take the shine away as Henry Ssenyondo and Stephanie Nampiina were named the Most Valuable Players (MVP) for the 2016 season.
Challengers’ left-arm orthodox spinner Ssenyondo beat rival 2015 MVP Roger Mukasa of Tornado Bee to scoop the top gong having accumulated 47 wickets at an economy of 3.06 runs in the Jazz Safari National Men’s Division One 50-Over League.
“I feel happy and glad to have made it this far,” said Ssenyondo. To the contrary, his side lost the title to Tornado Bee but he hopes Challengers can push for the title.
“Hopefully we can go on and win this season. I pray I can maintain the form this year ahead of the World Cricket League Division III,” he said.
Mukasa was best batsman and fielder with 419 runs and 15 dismissals respectively. Arnold Otwani, who had four centuries, was named MVP in the men’s second tier with 735 runs, 14 wickets and six dismissals - backbone for Aziz Damani’s promotion. Jinja SS’ leg spinner Nampiina was best in the National Women’s Division One League after scoring 238 runs and picking 26 wickets last season. In the second division, Joyce Mary Apio only failed to take the best wicket-keeper (went to Premier’s Stella Kyabangi).
Olila’s Apio had six dismissals, 22 wickets and 178 runs to bag the best fielder, bowler, batter awards. The MVP honour inevitably headed her way too.
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Challengers seeks fine start in belated season
The final decision on the status of Tornado club had an implication on both ends of the 2016 National Men’s Division One 50-Over League log.
That they suffered the knife for the first time in one of the fraternity’s bold decisions passed by new Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chairman Bashir ‘Badu’ Ansasira, Challengers, too, lost the title to Tornado Bee last month.
“After playing all a thrilling brand of cricket, it was painful to lose the title,” Challengers’ batsman Arthur Kyobe told Sunday Monitor in a recent interview.
Challengers would have celebrated a maiden title after earning promotion in 2013.
However, that ‘set-back’ is one they want to leave in their past which is some 231 days later from last season’s turbulent final day - July 17, 2016.
Fresh chapter
Vaheed Mohammed’s club now wants to start a fresh chapter on a high when the new season bowls off with an interesting match against Nile at Lugogo Oval this morning.
“We want to take one game at a time,” left-hander Kyobe said. “Obviously, the big target is to claim the championship at the end of the day.”
The 2016 Twenty20 winners Challengers have added Irfan Afridi (from KICC), Kamal Shahzad (Aziz Damani) and David Wabwire (Tornado) to bolster their batting and bowling attacks.
However, 1995 winners Nile, who survived relegation at the expense of Tornado, want a better season.
“We had a good team last year but didn’t perform well generally,” Nile skipper David Musoke told this paper.
“Nile is ready to compete for a top slot,” he added while promising to unveil a surprise package.
Meanwhile, record top-flight champions Tornado start life in the lower tier against Challengers’ feeder side Strikers at the lakeside oval in Entebbe.
Strikers welcome trio Derrick Bakunzi, Sohaib Ehsan and Fahad Sadiq all from Challengers.
NATIONAL MEN’S 50-OVER LEAGUE
TODAY’S FIXTURES - 10:30AM
DIVISION ONE
Challengers vs. Nile, Lugogo
DIVISION TWO
Tornado vs. Strikers, Kyambogo
By Darren Allan Kyeyune
ABDALLAH HALF CENTURY SINKS AZIZ DAMANI CC IN PRACTICE GAME
Aziz Damani Select XI 190/10 in 44 overs (Hasahya Emmy 72(129), Davis Karashani 32(40), Cyrus Kibuukamusoke 4/56 in 10 overs, Deus Muhumuza 3/16 in 6.3 Overs) Lost to Tornado Bees Select XI 194/4 in 40 overs (Abdallah Lubega 95*(116), Akbar Baig 68(92), Davis Karashani 2/21 in 10 overs) by six wickets.
Abdallah Lubega probably sent one last reminder to the selectors about his abilities with bat in hand with a 144 run 2nd wicket stand with Baig Akbar in a pre-season game at Lugogo Oval against Aziz Damani C.C. The former KICC player recently moved to Tornado Bees Cricket Club will have given his new employers plenty of comfort ahead of the new season with his smart innings.
Aziz Damani CC opted to bat first and lost Amar Lakhani early to Deus Muhumuza but Hasahya Emmanuel 72(129) who is fast establishing himself as a top order colossus for Aziz Damani steadied the innings with Davis Karashani 32(40) as they put on a second wicket stand of 80 before Karashani became Cyrus Kibuukamusoke’s first victim.
Hashaya was involved in all the significant partnerships for his side putting on 28 for the third wicket with Kenneth Waiswa 13(21) and 44 for the fourth wicket with Steve Tikolo 28(43) before both set batsmen went out in succession leaving Aziz Damani C.C with a rebuilding job to do.
Brian Masaba 18(25) struggled to find partners to get this job done as Deus and Cyrus continued to run through the middle and late order and he fell to Deus as Cyrus picked last recognized all-rounder Issanez Emmanuel to leave Damani at 190 all out in 40 overs.
The chief destroyer was Cyrus picking four wickets that also had the opportunity to bat with Peter Trego in a huge partnership in a T20 game in Rwanda a week ago and carried a lot of the confidence into this game.
Such was the magnitude of Hasahya’s effort that he batted all but 9.3 overs of his team’s total innings scoring 40% of the runs.
The Tornado Bees run chase was about two men, one retired from the national side after serving the nation and the other still trying to break through, either way, both went home happy.
After losing Kebba Nicholas 03(11) early, former Ugandan Captain Akbar Baig 68(92) and Abdallah Lubega 95(116) put on a mammoth second wicket 144 run stand that ate steadily and significantly away at Aziz Damani’s total with ease allowing them to canter home easily.
Abdallah who had the good fortune of being dropped by Brian Masaba while still on naught cashed in on a golden opportunity to dig in and make his mark with the ICC World Cricket League division 3 qualifiers around the corner.
Dropped from the final 20 in camp, he will surely hope that this changes the selector’s minds; but word from the camp is it is not his batting that got him dropped in the first place.
Captain Jeremy Kibuukamusoke will have been very satisfied with his transfer window business from the evidence of Abdallah’s innings and Tornado Bees will be rearing to go at the 2017 Jazz Safari National Men’s cricket League having defeated one of their probable title rivals quite convincingly.
Prepared by:
Alvin Bagaya
UgCricket
Ansasira replaces Mwami as new cricket top honcho
Nile Cricket Club’s Bashir ‘Badu’ Ansasira was elected into office as Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chairman in a hotly contested election at Kati Kati Restaurant, Lugogo.
Badu garnered nine of 16 votes while his opponents Paul Luswata Nsibuka of Tornado and KICC’s Mukesh Shukla got seven and zero respectively.
There was pre-election controversy over who was supposed to vote on behalf of KICC and whether the constitution was flouted by the late inclusion of Mukesh on the ballot. This prompted outgoing chairman Richard Mwami to swing his powerful willow into action by ‘throwing’ KICC out of the elective assembly till they resolve their in-house issues.
Mwami’s actions were however supported by the constitution that calls for clubs to offer their delegates and also gives a provision for nominations in the assembly as seen below.
Though KICC returned with Shukla and Hanumant Katkar as their delegates, there was no doubt when the former polled no vote that the Dr Sudhir Ruparelia-led club had hatched up a plan to swing the vote, which could have ended in a loathed draw. This development caught the assembly off guard given some Mukesh posters been littered in Sun Lounge room of Mukesh prior to the meeting. But there were no prizes for guessing whom they had voted when they celebrated Badu’s victory louder than anyone else.
“We are ready to take responsibility of our duties and actions. We shall bring peace in cricket through high levels of transparency,” Badu promised in his victory speech reading right through the mood of an assembly that gave their auditor George Ndiko a tough time consequently declining to return him for another term.
Incumbent Jeremy Kibuukamusoke was a lightweight for Eric Kamara, who outmuscled him 12 to 4 votes in the race for secretary. Ansasira and Kamara are scheduled to appoint the heads of the different serving committees including but not restricted to finance, technical, games, disciplinary and marketing, among others.
HOW THEY VOTED
CHAIRMAN
Bashir ‘Badu’ Ansasira: 9
Paul Nsibuuka Luswata: 7
Mukesh Shukla: 0
SECRETARY
Eric Kamara: 12
Jeremy Kibuukamusoke: 4
Board Members
Mary Nanderenga Makumbi - Women Representative
Jeremy Kibuukamusoke -Tornado B
Paul Kaheru - Africa
Premal Yagnik - Premier
Paul Nsibuka Luswata -Tornado
Emmanuel Tibagye - JACC
Mukesh Shukla - KICC
RULE OF LAW
Any two members of an affiliated Club may propose candidates to take up offices by notice in writing to the Secretary at least seven days before the date of the meeting, and the Secretary shall forthwith post the same in the Association premises, with the exception that further nominations to offices can be made on the floor at the time of election, subject to the different Club’s rights created herein.
By INNOCENT NDAWULA & MAKHTUM MUZIRANSA
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