Osinde on brink of history
Apr 16, 2009
<b>Charles Mutebi</b><br><br>IF the national team were still at the ICC World Cup Qualifier, every cricket-loving Ugandan would have been deprived of last night’s sleep by a tense expectation ahead of today’s final round of Super Eight matches.
Charles Mutebi
ICC World Cup qualifier 2009
Today
Canada v Netherlands
Scotland v UAE
Ireland v Kenya
Namibia v Afghanistan
1975 World Cup
Edgbaston
East Africa 128-6 in 60
New Zealand 309-5 in 60
NZ won by 181 runs
Headingley
East Africa 120 all out in 55.3
India 123-0 in 29.5
India won by 10 wickets
Edgbaston
England 290-5 in 60
East Africa 94 all out in 52.3
England won by 196 runs
IF the national team were still at the ICC World Cup Qualifier, every cricket-loving Ugandan would have been deprived of last night’s sleep by a tense expectation ahead of today’s final round of Super Eight matches.
Yet the only matter of interest left for Ugandans is the fact that one of their own is in strong contention for a reappearance at a World Cup.
If Canada finishes in the Super Eight top four after today’s final round of qualifiers and thereby book their place at the 2011 World Cup, Henry Osinde will be in line for a second successive appearance at the global showpiece – only the third time a cricketer of Ugandan descent would be playing at that level
“It’s good to have another Ugandan play at the World Cup, it doesn’t matter (whether he’ll be playing for Canada),†said John Nagenda yesterday. Nagenda was one of the other two Ugandans to achieve the feat.
Nagenda and Sam Walusimbi were the first, and until 2007 remained the only Ugandans to play at the highest level.
It is an accomplishment they attained as the only blacks on Africa’s sole representatives–team East Africa –in the inaugural World Cup in 1975.
They lost all three of their group games, to New Zealand, India and England by 181 runs, 10 wickets, and 196 runs respectively. But like the Olympics, participation is all that mattered for East Africa.
“It was such a great honour to represent our country,†Nagenda elaborated yesterday. “We were not the strongest team but it was exciting taking part, you know, we were playing against some of our heroes.â€
Nagenda played one match and memorably took 1/50 in 9 overs against New Zealand, picking the wicket of KJ Walsworth.
Opener Walusimibi played in all three of East Africa’s encounters, and grossed a precious 38 runs with the bat. His highest score was 16 against India, one run better than his tally against eventual semifinalists England.
Walusimbi insists it was so long ago he “doesn’t remember†the details of his World Cup experience.
Asked whether he took any pride in being one of the three Ugandans to play in a World Cup, he responded: “I don’t think in terms of records, you just go out, play and enjoy your cricket.â€
No doubt Osinde will have more fond memories of his debut World Cup in the West Indies yet if Canada beat the Netherlands today, it is the future that the 30 year-old born and bred Uganda will be really excited about.
.
ICC World Cup qualifier 2009
Today
Canada v Netherlands
Scotland v UAE
Ireland v Kenya
Namibia v Afghanistan
1975 World Cup
Edgbaston
East Africa 128-6 in 60
New Zealand 309-5 in 60
NZ won by 181 runs
Headingley
East Africa 120 all out in 55.3
India 123-0 in 29.5
India won by 10 wickets
Edgbaston
England 290-5 in 60
East Africa 94 all out in 52.3
England won by 196 runs
IF the national team were still at the ICC World Cup Qualifier, every cricket-loving Ugandan would have been deprived of last night’s sleep by a tense expectation ahead of today’s final round of Super Eight matches.
Yet the only matter of interest left for Ugandans is the fact that one of their own is in strong contention for a reappearance at a World Cup.
If Canada finishes in the Super Eight top four after today’s final round of qualifiers and thereby book their place at the 2011 World Cup, Henry Osinde will be in line for a second successive appearance at the global showpiece – only the third time a cricketer of Ugandan descent would be playing at that level
“It’s good to have another Ugandan play at the World Cup, it doesn’t matter (whether he’ll be playing for Canada),†said John Nagenda yesterday. Nagenda was one of the other two Ugandans to achieve the feat.
Nagenda and Sam Walusimbi were the first, and until 2007 remained the only Ugandans to play at the highest level.
It is an accomplishment they attained as the only blacks on Africa’s sole representatives–team East Africa –in the inaugural World Cup in 1975.
They lost all three of their group games, to New Zealand, India and England by 181 runs, 10 wickets, and 196 runs respectively. But like the Olympics, participation is all that mattered for East Africa.
“It was such a great honour to represent our country,†Nagenda elaborated yesterday. “We were not the strongest team but it was exciting taking part, you know, we were playing against some of our heroes.â€
Nagenda played one match and memorably took 1/50 in 9 overs against New Zealand, picking the wicket of KJ Walsworth.
Opener Walusimibi played in all three of East Africa’s encounters, and grossed a precious 38 runs with the bat. His highest score was 16 against India, one run better than his tally against eventual semifinalists England.
Walusimbi insists it was so long ago he “doesn’t remember†the details of his World Cup experience.
Asked whether he took any pride in being one of the three Ugandans to play in a World Cup, he responded: “I don’t think in terms of records, you just go out, play and enjoy your cricket.â€
No doubt Osinde will have more fond memories of his debut World Cup in the West Indies yet if Canada beat the Netherlands today, it is the future that the 30 year-old born and bred Uganda will be really excited about.
.