Uganda: ICC Trophy debut pushes cricket into the mainstream
CRICKET, admittedly, is not yet one of Uganda's most popular sports
Louis Jadwong
01-Aug-2001
CRICKET, admittedly, is not yet one of Uganda's most popular sports.
Football, rallying, athletics and boxing hold top honors, but, all that changed for nine days from June 29 2001 when Uganda caused the first shock of the ICC Trophy tournament in Toronto.
By whipping 13th ranked Malaysia on their Mini-World cup debut, Uganda that were 23rd seeds became the talk of the town overnight. From then on everyone had an opinion and the talk -- for many the first time - was all about wickets, runs, overs and fours.
For a country that has struggled to have in impact on the international scene, news that they had beaten countries many know as soccer giants like France and Argentina, even though in a different sport, was something to savor.
The entire country was captivated by the performance with many expecting the
young lads to go all the way to win the competition .
Uganda won all their group games before the bubble finally burst at the play-off stage against former winners UAE. The African torch was thereafter taken up by Namibia.
Also grouped in the second division, Namibia beat all the teams to storm the final in Toronto, reinforcing the feeling that Uganda were unlucky not to snatch a place at cricket's showpiece event, the World Cup in 2003.
That feeling was echoed by up to 100 fans that traveled to Entebbe, 26 kilometers out of the city, to receive the team when they returned from Toronto. Among them was the legend himself, Sam Walusimbi who in 1975 was on
the east and central African team at the World Cup.
Ugandan cricket is a story of what good organisation, long term planning and
youth programmes can do to transform any sport -- in this case a minority
one in this east African country.
Eight amateur clubs compete for what is the national league sponsored by
Bank of Baroda and are from only two towns. Seven clubs are in the capital
Kampala, and one is at Jinja, the source of the River Nile.
The foundation however lies in the Coca Cola national schools competition that attracts over 3o teams. The leading school is Busoga College Mwiri, from where captain John Lubia first handled a bat, and King's College Budo who have a very long cricket-playing tradition.
The break-through for Uganda came in 1998 when Uganda got ICC associate
membership.
Interaction with Kenyan clubs have also raised local standards, with the likes of Kennedy Otieno, Tom and Steve Tikolo, Maurice Odumbe playing occasionally on the Ugandan scene. Tikolo, a regular visitor, is ICC development officer for the region.
Uganda Cricket Association boss Francis Kazinduki said he hoped the country's superb show will see foreign teams touring Africa include Uganda on their itinerary. "It is now a stepping stone to greater things in future," Kazinduki said.
One of the brightest stars that emerged was all rounder Kenneth Kamyuka.
The twenty-year-old will be remembered for his 54-ball century (100) that
turned the game against Malaysia. Only Richard Okia, 18, is younger.
John Odyek represented government in receiving the team. "Cricket has always
stood out uniquely among local associations. However this success was no mean achievement, but gradual from the firm foundation of the Coca-Cola Schools Development," he remarked.
Bank of Baroda league standings as at July 14.
P W L D Bt Bw Pts Destroyers 7 6 1 0 22 31 173 Wanderers 6 4 2 0 17 29 126 ACC 6 4 2 0 20 25 125 Lohana 6 4 2 0 15 26 121 Tornado 5 4 1 0 10 21 112 Premier 7 2 5 0 12 21 73 Nile 7 1 6 0 8 29 57 JACC 5 0 5 0 11 14 25