When Aloet, Nakatunya won first edition

SOROTI. If there was ever any doubt that cricket was on a downward spiral in Uganda, those fears were quashed. Kampala and Jinja have predominantly been known as the major bases for cricket in Uganda but Kasese and primarily Soroti have been the trend setters over the last two years.
Soroti, in particular, have justified that through hard work and proper administration, the game can scale the heights.

Already they have supplied immensely talented players to the National U-19 Girls Team; Mildred Anyigo, Eunice Alungat, Kevin Auro and Fellister Akello as well as the Senior Ladies Team (The Lady Cricket Cranes); including wicket-keeper Esther Illoku, Evelyne Anyipo, Irene Alumo and Joyce Mary Apio.
The story wasn’t any different as the Soroti Cricket Academy organised the first-ever Soroti Cricket Carnival as the holiday camp climaxed recently.
With the objective of opening their gates to the society they live in to educate and help the natives learn how cricket is played and what it is all about, the maiden carnival didn’t disappoint as it unearthed budding stars.

Day’s winners
Aloet Warriors and Nakatunya Titans took the respective boys. and girls’ titles at the well-attended event featuring national stars like Cricket Cranes all-rounder Jonathan Ssebanja and Lady Cricket Cranes vice-captain Janet Mbabazi.
With the boys final at the Soroti Cricket Carnival, that was played under the Six-A-Side format at the Soroti Rugby Grounds, restricted to a two-over affair because of looming bad light, Aloet won the toss, batted first and scored 20 runs with Richard Odong managing 10. Senior Quarters Knights were restricted to just 13 for the loss of three wickets.

Their quick collapse gifted Aloet Warriors a seven-run triumph.
But it was the girls’ final that had everyone on their toes particularly the fans who screamed their lungs out. The Aloet Warriors, who were captained by Uganda’s opening bowler Joyce Mary Apio, won the toss and set 25 runs in four overs. But Nakatunya Titans, whose side had batting queen Jennifer Nabwana and were captained by fast-rising Phiona Kulume stood firm and chased down the score for the loss of two wickets with two balls to spare to reign supreme by three wickets. Nabwana was the star with 10 runs but it was Kamuda’s Mary Akello, who took the Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade in the girls’ category after several consistent shows.
Soroti Blazers opening batsman Henry Ebulu, who played for Campswahili and is a student of Teso College Aloet, was the boys MVP.

Hon Ariko’s gesture
Both received awards from SCA chairman Felix Musana and Soroti Municipality MP Herbert Ariko Edmund Okworo. Musana and SCC chairman Andrew Okurut Otim concurred that the carnival will be an annual affair after an overwhelmingly successful event, whose proceeds will be used to cater for the academy’s needs and participants’ scholastic materials as well as school fees. Hon Ariko, who was excited with the talent on show, dug deep in his pockets and offered SCA a token of Shs500,000 for every month from then to boost the latter’s activities.
The SCC committee cut cake for all the participants and later the MP broke into traditional dance with the elated kids, who repeatedly recited the MP’s famous slogan – “We promise, we deliver.”
Such was the day’s beauty, the revelers stayed to make merry at the grounds till the wee hours.

SOROTI CRICKET CARNIVAL
Results – Finals (Boys)
Aloet Warriors 20/2 Senior Quarters Knights 13/3
Aloet won by seven runs
Finals (Girls)
Aloet Warriors 25 for 2 Nakatunya Titans 26/2
Nakatunya Titans won by 3 wickets

RESULTS

Boys – Preliminaries
*Campswahili 23/2
Senior Quarters 25/0
*Nakatunya Titans 41/4
Campswahili 42/1
*Campswahili 46/0
Aloet Warriors 72/0
*Aloet Warriors 20/2
Senior Quarters 11/2
*Aloet Warriors 45/1
Nakatunya Titans 36/4
*Nakatunya Titans 41/4
S.Quarters Knights 35/1
*S.Q Knights 40/2
Aloet Warriors 44/4
Girls – Preliminaries
*Nakatunya Titans 32/1
Senior Quarters 31/3
*Aloet Warriors 29/1
Senior Quarters 21/3
*Campswahili 26/1
Nakatunya Titans 27/1
*Kamuda 39/0
Senior Quarters 34/3
*Campswahili 21/1
Aloet Warriors 35/2
*Kamuda 20/2
Aloet Warriors 28/3