Tornado Bee start chase for historic fourth title
Tornado B’s Roger Mukasa (right) and his sibling Lawrence Ssematimba will face their elder brother Frank Nsubuga in the season opener today. PHOTO BY Eddie Chicco
What you need to know:
Cricket . Last year, Tornado Bee lost their season opener to Tornado but went on to win their third successive title. New-look KICC is here to give them a tough start to their title defence.
KAMPALA. At every turn, there is something new about the 2016 National Men’s 50-Over League.
What stands out most is the new five-team Division Three tier whose games will be played on Saturdays.
Fast forward up, the ardent cricket fans will witness new-look teams when the Division One contests get underway at three different Ovals today.
Tornado Bee will present the same hunger as they seek to win their fourth successive title.
The holders have stuck to all their old guards and a surprise recruit Deus Muhumuza from Tornado should bolster a perfect start against Kampala Institute of Cricket Clubs (KICC) at Kyambogo.
“The club management insists we go for it (the trophy) again and we’ll just do that,” Tornado Bee skipper Jeremy Kibuukamusoke told Sunday Monitor.
Big acquisitions
While they’ve added only one, KICC had several byes and buys during off-season. Of the inclusions, there is a massive capture of Arthur Ziraba and Frank Nsubuga from 2012 winners Tornado.
“Their experience is key if we are move from mediocre ranks to title challengers,” KICC’s captain Hamunant Katkar noted.
Interestingly, spinner Nsubuga leaves after 13 years at Tornado. “I needed to get the feel of change of environment and hopefully, we’ll start well against the champions.” he said.
Katkar’s smile can even go wider as top-order batsman Hamza Saleh is back in the fray having sat out last year.
Elsewhere, Wanderers are back to the topflight but the 2012 runners-up will be devoid of Hamu Kayondo who switched to join Challengers. His first task is comes up against his former side at Lugogo.
Expect veteran Wanderers’ coach Sam Walusimbi to cut that forlorn figure should Kayondo punish his bowlers.
Depleted Tornado, who also lost Cricket Cranes skipper Brian Masaba to Aziz Damani, will be the underdogs against last year’s surprise package Nile at Entebbe.
Men’s 50-over League
Today’s fixtures: 10:30am
Division One
Wanderers vs. Challengers Lugogo
KICC vs. Tornado Bee Kyambogo
Tornado vs. Nile Entebbe
