The long journey from Uganda to Adelaide
In the Weekend Australian , Mike Coward tells the story of Jimmy Okello and Patrick Ochan, two members of the Uganda cricket team that played in the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Darwin last year
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
In the Weekend Australian, Mike Coward tells the story of Jimmy Okello and Patrick Ochan, two members of the Uganda cricket team that played in the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Darwin last year. They have settled in Adelaide and found themselves bowling at Ricky Ponting in the nets this week.
They are now self-sufficient and with the legal assistance provided by the Australian Refugees Association earnestly hope that they will be permitted to remain in Australia. Their legal team will be armed with glowing references from the Western Eagles and from the South Australian Cricket Association. In just seven months, both young men have made a great impact on the local cricket scene. "Every day is like a blessing," Okello said. "We want to settle in Australia." Their working visas are valid only until next month and the uncertainty of their future is causing considerable anxiety.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here