Kyobe, Nsubuga battle for cricket's top accolade

By Charles Mutebi

UCA Awards

Nominees

Multiple Industries Div. 1

Player of series

A. Kyobe, F. Nsubuga & N. Kebba

Multiple Industries Div. 2

Player of series

R. Lwamafa, D. Ruyange, & P. Hiral

National women’s league

Player of series

F. Najjumba, M. Nanderenga and D. Busingye

Life in the post New Zealand vacuum starts Thursday with the awards gala of the Uganda Cricket Association.

The function that will recognise the best performers from the 2013 local season will be held at the MTN Arena, Lugogo, and will briefly offer Uganda’s finest cricketers some escape from the sleep-draining truths received from the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

Arthur Kyobe, Frank Nsubuga (both from Tornado) and Nicholas Kebba, who helped Tornado B win their maiden national league title last year, are shortlisted for the main award of Player of Series from the Multiple Industries Cricket League Division 1.

Kyobe and Kebba also appear in the race for Division 1 best batsman, alongside Tornado B’s Lawrence Sematimba.

The shortlist for best bowler in Division 1 has Nsubuga, Patidar’s Emmanuel Issaneez and SKLPS’ Ramesh Kimani.

In the women’s league, Tornado’s Franklin Najjumba will be going for her second player of series accolade but she will have to beat off stiff competition from Wanderers’ Mary Nanderenga and JACC’s Damalie Busingye.

Challengers’ Daniel Ruyange, ACC’s Richard Lwamafa’s and SVPC’s Patel Hiral are in the race for the Multiple Industries Cricket League Division 2 player of series.

This, the third edition of the gala, marks the continuation of the commendable idea of rewarding excellence yet in the wake of Uganda’s abysmal performance at last month’s New Zealand Qualifier, the irony is hard to miss.