Mukisa Backs Baby Cricket Cranes To Shine In Rwanda As U19 World Cup Quest Begins
Batting all-rounder Eric Mukisa says the Uganda Baby Cricket Cranes are ready to make the nation proud as they head to Kigali for the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup Africa Qualifier.
“We are well aware that we are representing the entire nation. For that, we are going to do our best and come out victorious,” Mukisa said ahead of the team’s departure.
Uganda is chasing a fourth appearance at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, having previously qualified in 2004 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2006 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and 2022 in the West Indies.
Team Flagged Off
The contingent was flagged off on Thursday, August 6, at the NCS Hockey Ground by National Council of Sports Assistant General Secretary Technical, Milton Chebet.
The traveling squad of 14 players is under the stewardship of Head Coach Grace Mutyagaba and his assistant Jonathan Ssebanja.
Speaking on the mission, Mutyagaba noted the team has worked on past weaknesses.
“We are set to go and perform. Previously we struggled with batting, relying on only two players, and we also struggled against spin. But this time we are going with 8 batters,” he said.
“Our bowling has also improved. We have had enough build-up games in both T20s and 50-over matches to prepare the boys to bat out all their overs, which we failed to do previously.”
Road To Redemption
In the last qualifiers held in Lagos, Nigeria, Uganda was relegated from Division One. This time, the Baby Cricket Cranes are determined to bounce back from Division Two.
Preparations began last month in Fort Portal with 30 players and concluded with two camps in Kampala before the team departed for Rwanda on Friday, August 7.
Fixtures – Kigali, Rwanda
All matches will start at 10:30am at the Gahanga Oval:
- Aug 9: Uganda vs Nigeria
- Aug 10: Uganda vs Mozambique
- Aug 12: Uganda vs Ghana
- Aug 13: Uganda vs Sierra Leone
- Aug 15: Uganda vs Rwanda Traveling Contingent
Players:
Daniel Rubangakene Captain
Robert Owilli Wicketkeeper
Ronald Rubangakene
Samuel Ahaisibwe
Davansh Patel
Jackson Asiku
Mir Abraiz Ali
Richard Sohera
Kenneth Isiko
Adam Kassim
Felix Ochan
Eric Mukisa
Larry Itagi
Hamidu Munigwa
Technical Team:
Head Coach: Grace Mutyagaba
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Ssebanja
Physiotherapist: Habiba Kulthum Anguyo
Analyst: Jeff Mwesigwa Kasozi
Media: Ivan Cyprian Ssajjabbi
Team Manager: Sylvester Rokani