Cricket Cranes’ spirits high ahead of Mission Malaysia

Cricket Cranes captain Nsubuga receives a flag from Katende (R), the assistant General Secretary of National Council fofSports in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY AMINAH BABIRYE

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Cricket. Team departed yesterday for Malaysia and will face the hosts, Nepal, Singapore, Bermuda and USA in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Div. III tournament

Kampala. Right from coach Peter Kirsten to his players, there felt a strong aura of good feeling yesterday morning at Lugogo before the national men’s team departed for Malaysia for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division Three showpiece.
Every member on the travelling contingent, clad in a white t-shirt, black coat and grey trousers, wore a cheery face. The quick jibes amongst themselves and their bubbly interaction with the media during the photo-shoot painted a picture of readiness, against opponents, the hosts, Nepal, Singapore, Bermuda and USA.
“We are ready for the tough mission ahead. We are under no pressure to play,” asserted Cricket Cranes’ skipper Frank Nsubuga moments after receiving the national flag on behalf of his teammates from National Council of Sports (NCS) official David Katende.
Uganda’s last outing at an ICC event was bizarre. They finished bottom at the ICC World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand. Such memories were distant.
“We have tried to gel for the last three months and the time has come to deliver. We want the fans to forget New Zealand once we touch down in Malaysia,” Nsubuga, the most experienced of all, said.
Uganda’s dream of a top-two finish at the six-team event to progress to the WCL Div.II in Namibia early next year just continued to feel easy on the eye.
“We have done all we had to do and we would not have prepared better than we have done,” South African Kirsten noted. “We’ll go out there and play the African way - with caution and aggression,”
Throughout yesterday morning, the 59-year-old tactician could not lose his smile after all the final player Selowa Mukobe had joined the team on Sunday night from South Africa.
“I haven’t been here with the team over the last three weeks because of work but it won’t stop me from performing,” said Selowa who is likely to be the second wicket-keeping option after Naeem Bardai.
“I only met my teammates yesterday (Sunday) but its been easy for me to fit in. We are sure of the best results in Malaysia.”
The team flew out last afternoon to Dubai and arrive in Kuala Lumpur today.

2014 ICC PEPSI WORLD CRICKET LEAGUE DIV. 3
UGANDA FIXTURES – 4:30AM
Oct. 23: Nepal v Uganda (Kinrara Ac. Oval)
Oct. 24: Uganda v Singapore (Kinrara AO)
Oct. 26: USA v Uganda (Selangor Turf Club)
Oct. 27: Malaysia v Ug. (Bayeumas Oval)
Oct. 29: Ug. v Bermuda (Bayeumas Oval)