Uganda cricketers play Kenya

Oct 13, 2008

THE Uganda national cricket team take on Kenya A today in Nairobi in the first of three friendly matches this week.

By Charles Mutebi

THE Uganda national cricket team take on Kenya A today in Nairobi in the first of three friendly matches this week.

The two other matches will come against Zimbabwe tomorrow and a Nairobi provincial side on Thursday.

The 14-man team travelled to Kenya on Sunday led by coach Ebrahim Mohamed, for whom the matches will bring the opportunity to see his team in competitive action for the first time since taking over in July.

The former South Africa A coach is here for a principle six months fully sponsored by the African and world cricket governing bodies.

The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) is optimistic his expertise will boost the nation’s world cup campaign which starts early next year with division three qualifiers in Argentina.

The friendlies will, for all intents and purposes, mark the beginning of the team’s preparations for Uganda’s world cup dream.

Going by form, Mohamed will look to Joel Olweny and Emmanuel Nakaana to lead his charges on the pitch. Olweny and Nakaana have been the most illustrious batsman and bowler respectively in the Super Six league this season.

Alongside that pair, bowler Charles Waiswa, who recently returned from a semi professional stint in England, is also expected to carry a great threat for Uganda. The progress of Charity’s Jonathan Sebbanja and Wanderers Assadu Seiga, who have been handed their national debuts, will also be interesting to monitor.

The rest of the playing staff is made up of familiar faces who have been accompanied by assistant coach Francis Otieno, UCA chairman Dr. Kato Sebbale, team manager and assistant Richard Mwami and Justin Ligyalingi.

The team: J. Olweny, D. Arinaitwe, B. Musoke, J. Sebbanja, E. Nakaana, C. Waiswa, A. Seiga, F. Nsubuga, R. Otim, L. Sematimba, R. Daniel, A. Kyobe, R. Mukasa, A. Baig.

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