CRICKET

Isaneez is counting on team bonding, togetherness ahead of the U-19 CWC qualifiers

11:16 - 21 July 2023

The Baby Cricket Cranes during the official flag off at Lugogo. (UCA Twitter).

The former Cricket Cranes bowler, now tasked with guiding Uganda’s youngest cricket squad to a global showpiece, has initiated a new tradition to create team bonding and togetherness ahead of the qualifiers in Tanzania.

As the Baby Cricket Cranes embark on another uphill task of sealing a fourth World Cup qualification, the urge to achieve the feat as a unit remains the target of the head coach Emmanuel Isaneez.

Cricket

It will be competitive, but we will give it our all – Isaneez ahead of the U-19 CWC qualifiers

The initiation, dubbed ‘the coach’s drink,’ was first done on Thursday afternoon after David Katende Ssemakula, the Deputy Secretary General of the National Council of Sports, officially flagged off the team.

The coach's drink is something new in the set-up, introduced to share passion and love within the Team as they bond on the final day before we travel to Tanzania, this will always be a symbol of togetherness from Top to bottom in the Team's settings, #missioncolombo #worldcup pic.twitter.com/U1PCmdiB5c
— Isaneez Emmanuel, CWB ,UCA (@isaneezemmanuel) July 20, 2023

“The coach’s drink is something new in the set-up, introduced to share passion and love within the team as they bond on the final day before we travel to Tanzania,” Isaneez tweeted using his official handle.

“This will always symbolise togetherness from top to bottom in the team’s settings,” he added.

Uganda, who depart on Friday, hope to reach their fourth U-10 Cricket World Cup; having appeared in the 2004, 2006 and 2022 editions, the 2024 edition will be held in Sri Lanka.

The Baby Cricket Cranes were this morning flagged off by @NCSUganda1 ahead of the U-19 World Cup Qualifiers in Tanzania. The tournament will run from July 21st-31st and will feature five other teams Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and hosts Tanzania. #BabyCricketCranes pic.twitter.com/m5qIkc1FTQ
— Uganda Cricket Association (@CricketUganda) July 20, 2023

Six teams, including hosts Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Kenya, will be battling for one slot in the World Cup.

The Baby Cranes squad, which has six players from the 2022 edition, open their campaign on Sunday, 23rd July, against Namibia.

The Squad

Fahad Mutagana, Pius Oloka, Ronald Omara, Yunusi Sowobi, Musa Majid, Nyero Jonathan, Gerald Olipa, Balidawa Ali, Joseph Baguma, Brian Asaba, Conrad Lubwama, Abdul Aziz Tandia, Jaffer Ochaya, Anas Baig.