Busoga College Mwiri once again proved what a class act they are in as far as the Schools Cricket Week is concerned.
The Jinja side outcompeted ten other schools to win a record-breaking 19th School cricket trophy. Played at the Jinja SS cricket ground, the final was contested by Mwiri and the Nyakasura school.
The Eastern giants won the toss and elected to bat first to set 129 for 9 on the board.
The final, due to a heavy downfall wasn’t played to its entirety though. While that was the case, the winner had to be found and the only available option was through a coin toss which Nyakasura refused to take part in.
The outcome was Mwiri being declared champions by the organisers.
Added to the two schools, the tournament also had Teso College, Lord’s Meade, Jinja SSS, Kololo SS, Makerere College, Dehli Public School, Ntare SS, Kilembe SS and Ndejje SS take part.
It was an action-packed week, and the Uganda Cricket Association’s chairman Michael Nuwagaba was left impressed by the talent on display.
“The quality of play and players is much better. We are seeing young boys and girls playing proper cricket and displaying a good attitude towards the game. It’s really good and it will only get better.”
Various youngsters went out with different awards. Nyakasura’s Baguma Joseph was voted best fielder, best bowler went to Joel Kakaire from Victoria High School
While Amos Ahura was named the best Wicket Keeper. Fahad Mutagana from the winning school was named the best batter and the ultimate winner came from Jinja SS as Pius Oloka was voted MVP.
Former UCA CEO Martin Ondeko emphasized the tournament was used as a sporting ground for talent.
“We have selected 40 players that we are going to follow up throughout their cricket career.
“We shall have tournaments and training camps organized for them. We shall ensure that we follow up with whatever they’re doing. Ensure that they’re training. And in the long run, we shall also organise scholarship programs for them.
“I believe in the next five or so years, we shall have players ready to play for the national team.”
The School’s cricket week has for a long time been a fundamental program in Ugandan cricket. It’s produced some of the best cricketers the nation has ever had including Davis Karashani, Kenneth Kamyuka, and Guy Kimbowa to name but a few.
