Uganda: Luswata Cup final decided

UGANDA'S cricket season opener, the Luswata Cup, ended in mid-February with a thrilling final between Africa CC and Wanderers CC at Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala.

Seven mighty clubs took heart to tussle each other for the prestigious Luswata Cup played in memory of the late Fred Luswata, former chairman Uganda Cricket Association (UCA). Africa (ACC), Nile, Premier, Destroyers, JACC, Tornado were the vanquished clubs. Wanderers CC turned up victorious after staging a ferocious fight against Africa in the finals.

An eight-wicket victory was sound enough to set ACC packing without grumbling after the side had set a disgraceful record lowest score of 73/10 in the allotted 30 overs that Wanderers overhauled with a loss of only two wickets.

Contributions from youngsters like Hamza Saleh (also Man of Match in the final game of an international Under-19 East Africa match between Uganda and Kenya last December) and Kenneth Legesi, who took six catches and four vital wickets respectively, ensured ACC get stranded at 73/10 with no more wickets at hand.

An inspired display of batting and fielding from Wanderers players saw them scoop the honours of the day, with former captain and one of Uganda's 2001 ICC Trophy heroes Tendo Mbazzi emerging Man-of-Series after an all-round performance.

The right hand batsman had a good batting average of 131 in two innings yet with an unbeaten century of 121 runs against Nile CC. The ace also had a haul of eight wickets in 22 overs at a cost of 41 runs in the tournament.

"It was not easy to reach victory, we had to put in a lot of efforts and work as a team for success," remarked Mbazzi at the end of the tournament.

After walloping champions Tornado in the semi finals, Africa deserved a win because Tornado with five international players seemed the side to beat.

International players like Junior Kwebiha, Simon Nsubuga and Charles Lwanga were just but unlucky to see their side ACC swallowed by Wanderers in the finals.

The tournament showed the weaknesses and strengths of all clubs ahead of even stiffer challenges.

Defending champions Tornado had a rough time losing to 1998 champions Africa CC in what was a thorough thumping in the semi finals at Lugogo oval.

2001 league giants Destroyers CC were not given a chance to go past the semi-finals after facing solid resistance from Wanderers CC.

1999 champions Premier were axed early by ACC as Tornado silenced JACC in the preliminary stages.

The Association has about 180 registered cricketers who play regular cricket and many are current products of the Schools Development Programmes established by UCA.

It is therefore not a surprise that no club is currently dominating the national scene because each club receives a blend of youngsters from schools at the beginning of a new season.

In other developments, the association held its Annual General Meeting where new members were elected in offices to run the association.

Francis Kazinduki bounced back as chairman for another term in office while Ramanbhai Patel was dropped as treasurer and replaced by Andrew Chappell. Justine Ligyalingi was also re-elected as honorary secretary and national captain John Lubia bounced back as organising secretary. On immediate attention for the new executive is the Malaysia Challenge slated for next month.

Meanwhile, another knockout tournament commonly known as Mawanda Cup in honour of the first Ugandan to be made a honorary member of Marylebone Cricket Club got underway on February 24 with six clubs in action at different cricket grounds.

Destroyers, the defending champions, enter the tournament at the semi-final stage after getting a first round bye.