Cricket: Olila plot for 2018 after adventurous debut

KAMPALA.

Olila High narrowly missed out on winning the National Women Cricket League over the weekend in Jinja. For a side playing in the top tier for the first time, second place is a strong indicator that the Soroti Cricket Academy managed side is on the right track.
Had they secured the league, it would have been their second piece of silverware of the season, having won the T20 league earlier on.
Olila came into Saturday’s game against Wanderers hoping to wrestle the title from Jinja SSS. But the latter ran away with it on 25 points compared to Olila’s 24. Jinja defeated Tornardo Bee by 6 wickets to wrap it up at Kyambogo.
Club manager and chairman Soroti Cricket Academy Felix Musana would have loved his side to be crowned league champions but he will not dwell on the failure.
“Yes I was disappointed,” he told Daily Monitor when asked about missing on the title.
“But at the same time I am very proud that we put up a fight and competed with traditional clubs in our first year. Having the same wins as the champions means we are as good,” he explained.
After what he referred to as a successful season, Olila are already plotting for next season although they admit it will be harder than their first outing with a new Aziz Damani-sponsored female side expected in the mix. Coach Ivan Kakande wants the side to keep working hard for bigger things next year.
“We have to keep training even after the league,” he opined. Olila recorded another achievement when six of their own Gertrude Chandiru, Joyce Apio, Rachael Ntono, Gloria Obukor, Esther Iluko and Sarah Akiteng were named part of the training squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers.