Press Release CWB Autumn Project - 2017
Jazz Safari Women's National League Fixtures - 2017
CWB Autumn Project- 2017
Day one “on the job” today, in Fort Portal. What a spectacular setting, with the lush green Ugandan countryside set against the backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains. The chances of finding an astro cricket pitch in the middle of the school field? Higher than you would think! The day had quite a gentle start, as the teachers due for coach training were slow to arrive, but it gave the team, especially the first timers, a chance to break themselves in by playing with a few local children who turned up to see what was going on.
Once the teachers began to arrive, it was straight on to the astro for some pairs cricket, with Sara leading the programme. Ed and Bert were doing sterling work with their expanding group of kids, and all was going smoothly……….then the bell rang for break time in the primary school and 200+ youngsters charged in our direction, eager to use up some energy. All hands to the pumps, and the newly trained teachers found themselves having some unexpected practice, as the field became covered with groups learning catching skills.
Back to lessons for the kids, a quick snack for the group, and the teachers had the chance to run some sessions themselves. Their cricket knowledge and skills were generally good, so our focus was on encouraging them to use as many ways as possible to introduce the HIV prevention messages into their sessions, and link those with cricket skills. On the other side of the field the rest of the team were working with the primary school children, then it was the turn of a group from the secondary school next door, all competent cricketers.
One of the teachers had invited us to his boarding school for an after school class, so it was into the bus and across town for our last session of the day, with about 60 teenage girls, ending with a very competitive game and a lot of smiling faces.
Certainly in at the deep end for us newbies, but we managed to cope with it all, and went back to our home for the week hot and tired, but nothing a couple of cold beers and a good dinner couldn’t fix. We’ve all already found some CWB special moments, and can’t wait to see what challenges tomorrow brings.
Unbeaten Uganda, Zimbabwe chase first slot to final
The two unbeaten sides; Uganda and Zimbabwe, at the on-going International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier clash in crucial encounter at the Wanderers Affies Oval today in Windhoek, Namibia.
Victory for either sides will not guarantee either of the sides a ticket to the global qualifying showpiece where the winner of the Africa Qualifying Event will meet other ICC regions winners including; Europe/Americas (Scotland & Netherlands), East Asia Pacific (Papua New Guinea) and two ICC Full Members (Bangladesh & Ireland).
But it will be one step closer to the coveted global qualifier scheduled for later this year or in early 2018 because the winner of today’s game will earn direct ticket to the Saturday’s all-important final.
The loser today will have a chance to still reach the final but fatigue and injury could halt their progress as they have to play an extra game – against the winner of the Namibia – Kenya encounter which will be the day’s curtain raiser.
“It is going to be a very tough game,” Lady Cricket Cranes coach Grace Mutyagaba, said after his team’s nets session yesterday.
“But we know what to do. We must take it easy and embrace the game’s basics. I believe whoever shows willingness to exhibit them and hunger will carry the day.”
It will be a battle between Uganda’s clinical bowling and Zimbabwe’s power hitters.
The Ugandan sextet of Joyce Mary Apio, Rita Musamali, Stephanie Nampiina, Franklyn Najjumba, Consy Aweko and Gertrude Candiru run into the quartet of Zimbabwe’s polished batters; Ashley Ndiraya, Modester Mupachikwa, Chipo Mugeri and Precious Marange.
Uganda and Zimbabwe have six points apiece and none of them can slip to third whereas Kenya and Namibia are stuck on two and whoever finishes third will play the loser between the top two teams on the log.
The loser will play Tanzania in the fourth-place playoff on Friday morning. Five teams are in the fray at this African showpiece.
By INNOCENT NDAWULA & DARREN ALLAN KYEYUNE
Aziz Damani are 2017 champions
KAMPALA- There is huge feeling of relief for many after Aziz Damani clinched the Jazz Safari National Cricket League title on their first time of asking on Sunday.
Damani only needed to beat Challengers and they duly picked a five-wicket win in Entebbe to end Tornado Bee’s four-year dominance.
“It is a dream come true,” excited Damani club CEO Siva Koti said after wild celebrations under overcast conditions. The club began in 2015, progressing to win the Division Two tier last year and is now at the pinnacle of club cricket in the country.
The result took Damani to 67 points from 13 matches, still 10 points clear of Tornado Bee even if the latter beat KICC by five wickets in Kyambogo.
“It feels really great to end Tornado Bee’s run,” said opening batsman Arnold Otwani after his 99-ball 65 helped Damani successfully chase a target of 150.
It was Otwani’s first top-flight league title and many more in the squad including captain Brian Masaba. “It was perfect result for us,” said Masaba whose leg-spin deliveries (4/37) troubled Challengers.
Challengers, who opted to bat first, had six batsmen failing to reach double figures. Only Hamu Kayondo (40 off 49) and Irfan Afridi (33 off 23) tried to check Damani’s march to the title but they only set 149 in 38.1 overs. “Restricting them that for us to chase 150 was good,” Masaba stated.
In the chase, Damani were 41-2 after 8.2 overs but Otwani’s 99-run partnership with veteran Steve Tikolo (42 off 47) blew the game out of Challengers’ hands even if Damani would later lose three wickets in a space of four balls. “The bulk of the work was done by that pair,” Masaba said.
Damani will now get a champions parade from 2016 winners Tornado Bee, who they play next weekend in a game of no consequences to their title credentials.
Meanwhile, Charity Trust Fund secured life in the top tier for another year after beating Nile by 152 runs in Lugogo thanks to Innocent Ndawula (4/18), Simon Ssesaazi (71 off 66) and Lawrence Ssempijja’s (67 off 60) efforts.
JAZZ SAFARI NATIONAL LEAGUE
WEEKEND RESULTS
DIVISION ONE
Challengers 149/10 Aziz Damani 152/5
(Aziz Damani won by 5 wickets)
KICC 148/10 Tornado Bee 152/5
(Tornado Bee by 5 wickets)
Charity TF 296/10 Nile 145/10
(Charity TF won by 151 runs)
DIVISION TWO
Tornado 242/10 ACC 227/10
(Tornado won by 15 runs)
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Uspa pick Lady Cricket Cranes
Kampala- Winning is a habit that no one wants to stop. Unfortunately the wheels have to come off at one point. But when the ride is still smooth everyone wishes it can go on for as long as possible.
Lady Cricket Cranes captain Kevin Awino believes the latest accolade as the Nile Special Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) Sports Personalities for the month of September will inspire her team to work harder.
“We are super delighted. Congratulations to the team and Uganda Cricket Association,” said Awino, when this reporter called her to deliver the news that journalists under the Uspa umbrella had picked the Lady Cricket Cranes over Uganda Amateur Golf Open champion Ronald Rugumayo as September’s finest.
“We (with fellow players Rita Musamali and Stephanie Nampiina) were headed for training with coach Habibu Mugalula before you called. And such great news is going to make us even work harder in the nets. We want to continue earning recognition from Uspa and other people. We have to stay on top.”
Stunning Zimbabwe
The Lady Cricket Cranes, who defeated Zimbabwe by three wickets in the final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier in Windhoek on September 16, polled 400 votes to stave off competition from Rugumayo (335) by 65 votes.
“The girls showed admirable character to stun overwhelming favourites Zimbabwe in the final. The teamwork was great and with the plaudits starting to come in now, I hope they can continue to work hard. Maybe Uspa will vote us as Team of the Year,” chipped in coach Grace Mutyagaba.
During the assembly held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Uspa members also commended Aziz Damani and Betway Kobs for winning the Jazz Safari National Cricket League and National Rugby Sevens title respectively.
The assembly also passed a resolution to condemn the SC Villa hooliganism because sports journalists are stakeholders in sports.
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Damani peel away after Tigers roar
At every turn over the past four years, the Tornado Bee machinery conquered the Jazz Safari National League as much as they wished.
For some, their four successive titles perhaps, do not even paint that picture of supremacy well. However, the men who don the green and orange jersey seem to be chocking terribly in pursuit of a fifth straight title.
On Sunday, they were humbled for the second straight time, losing by 133 runs to Kutchi Tigers at the University Oval in Kyambogo.
And guess what? Tornado Bee’s loss left them 16 points off the pace, also dropping from second to fourth as Tigers and KICC, 66-run victors over Nile moved up.
That’s after leaders Aziz Damani disciplined bottom side Patidar Samaj by 353 runs in Lugogo to move to 55 points from 10 matches thanks to centuries from Arnold Otwani (106 off 105) and Mohammed Wasim (102 off 55).
So is it the end of an era of dominance? “It’s never over until the fat lady sings,” Tornado Bee captain Jeremy Kibuukamusoke said after a briefing dressing room chat.
On the other hand, Gentex Enterprises and Keshwala Group-sponsored Tigers’ young and old were over the moon, celebrating a fourth straight win that took them second on 42 points.
“It is a very important win,” Tigers’ captain Alphesh Hirani said after the side got their first win over Tornado Bee in six limited-overs’ contests.
Tigers majorly relied on an Indian quartet Ronak Patel, Dinesh Kumar Nakrani, Aezaz Kothariya and Suresh Padiyadhi, who is here for the Rainbow Night Cricket Cup, to scratch Tornado Bee.
Kothariya was pivotal in the opening stand of 80 with Nanji Pindoriya (43 off 63) and later took the total to 125-2, finishing on 56 off 58 balls after 25.3 overs.
Shantital Raghvani got 51 off 55 while star man Ronak made 69 off 62, Nakrani had 16 off 18 Dhansukh Jesani (24 off 13) and Bharat Ghodadra (22 off 15) still left Tornado Bee’s best bowler Abdallah Lubega (4/64) wounded.
Pindoriya (3/24) was superb, destroying Tornado Bee’s middle order but Ronak’s stand-out two catches, one of top-scorer Akbar Baig (30 got 53) told the story even if when Deus Muhumuza (49 off 78) seemed to alter the script.
JAZZ SAFARI NATIONAL LEAGUE
WEEKEND RESULTS: DIVISION ONE
Aziz Damani 392/6 [416] Patidar 63/10
(Aziz Damani won by 353 runs via D/L)
Kutchi Tigers 297/9 Tornado Bee 164/10
(Kutchi Tigers won by 133 runs)
KICC 241/8 [240] Nile 175/10
(KICC won by 66 runs via D/L)
DIVISION TWO
Strikers 332/9 Jinja SS 141/10
(Strikers won by 191 runs)
SKLPS 115/10 Tornado 50/9
(Tornado won by 65 runs)
JACC 59/10 Mwiri 61/4
(JACC won by 6 wickets)
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Sweet T20 success for Olila
Charity stun Tornado Bee to blow title race wide open
Something unusual is happening in the Jazz Safari National League for the first time in nearly half-a-decade.
Defending champions Tornado Bee have their fifth successive title ambitions in jeopardy after losing their first match of the season by five wickets to Charity Trust Fund at Entebbe on Sunday.
Cruising to the title has been the order of the day for Tornado Bee, staving off competition from Tornado, KICC, Nile and Challengers with relative ease over the years.
That shocking Entebbe accident in their second round opener left Tornado Bee second with 39 points from eight matches.
It has further blown the title race wide with leaders Aziz Damani, only promoted this year, holding a 10-point advantage after nine outings.
Most importantly, Tornado Bee captain Jeremy Kibuukamusoke should still be regretting the decision to bat first on a damp wicket.
“It was a wrong call,” admitted Kibuukamusoke, whose side struggled to set 194-6 after 50 overs.
“The wicket played well in the afternoon.” And that played into Charity’s hands, making it three wins in nine matches. “Tornado Bee batted too slowly at the start yet our openers did the contrary,” skipper Lawrence Ssempijja noted.
Proof? Tornado Bee were 35-1 after 15 overs and it is a 99-run second-wicket partnership between Akbar Baig (44 off 116) and Lawrence Ssematimba (50 off 70) that temporarily got them out of the rut.
Knock of urgency
Fred Achelam’s 31-ball 38 signified more of his maturity but there was less that came through from the rest of the batsmen because left-arm orthodox bowler Innocent Ndawula (3/43) stemmed the runs flow. The spinner is on form having picked career best figures of 7/54 against Damani over a week ago.
When the wicket let loose in the afternoon, Charity conjured a rare brilliant batting start, with openers Ronald Opio (38 off 55) and Simon Ssesaazi (15 off 25) making 59 runs for the first wicket in 12.5 overs.
Then a 96-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Steven Wabwose (48 off 60) and Man of Match (MOM) Jonathan Ssebanja (56* off 67) steered Charity further ahead.
Lanky Cosmas Kyewuta’s 20* off 18 steered Charity home in 38.5 overs, leaving the stunned opponents led by William Kibuukamusoke in unbearable pain.
Across the Nile River, traditional giants Wanderers secured one of the most comfortable wins of the season when they overcame Jinja SS by 109 runs. In Division Three, Pirates defeated Avengers by 44 runs.
JAZZ SAFARI NATIONAL LEAGUE
RESUTS - DIVISION ONE
Nile 156/10 Kutchi Tigers 157/4
Tornado Bee 194/6 Charity TF 195/5
DIVISION TWO
SKLPS 137/10 Premier 139/4
Wanderers 212/10 Jinja SS 121/10
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Women's World T20 Qualifier 2017 - Africa Windhoek ( Namibia)
