Nsubuga signing intensifies Damani’s T20s glory quest
Nsubuga (L) goes through his bowling paces for KICC last season. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
KAMPALA- When Tornado Bee set pace to dominate the men’s cricket in 2014, they first depleted Patidar Samaj.
Lawrence Ssematimba, Roger Mukasa and Charles Waiswa left the 2011 league winners to Tornado Bee before Deus Muhumuza and Davis Karashani followed the bandwagon from Tornado and Wanderers.
Tornado Bee went on to dominate the Jazz Safari League, making a three-peat in 2016 title.
As we speak, Tornado Bee has vanished to the core. Remaining stalwarts Mukasa has joined two-time champions Aziz Damani while Muhumuza is off to KICC for the 2019 season. Now depleted Tornado Bee is Damani’s first opponent in the UCA Divisional Twenty20 Championship at the lake side oval in Entebbe today.
This double-header won’t pit Mukasa against his former side as he is away on a semi-professional stint with SG Crescents in Singapore but it marks a swift change of guard.
“All players in the paid ranks have been taken away,” Tornado Bee captain Jeremy Kibuukamusoke told Sunday Monitor.
“So we are going to become a media darling as everyone will sympathise with us,” he said.
Last season, Tornado Bee’s fall from grace was evident as they finished fifth in 50-Over League before Damani bundled them out at the quarterfinal stage in the Unimoni National T20 Cup.
“It is a big blow. But it is good to start and build again. We shall give it our all. “When you are looked at as the underdog, you have more chances,” added Kibuukamusoke.
Brothers signed
Damani has added Mukasa and his elder brother Frank Nsubuga to their unit, intensifying their quest more glory. “We want to take a Cup again. We want to be champions again,” remarked Aziz Damani captain Ghulam Hunzai.
Nsubuga is available to play but the Waiswas’ Kenneth and Charles are still playing in the Singapore Elite Player Series (EPS) while Riazat Ali and Bilal Hassun are in Pakistan for pre-season.
“We shall try our best since we still have a good team,” added Hunzai. Elsewhere, KICC meets Kutchi Tigers in Lugogo with the latter having let Ankit Patel return to captain newly promoted Patidar.
UCA DIVISIONAL T20 TOURNAMENT
TODAY’S FIXTURES - 10:30AM & 2PM
DIVISION ONE
KICC vs. Kutchi Tigers, Lugogo
Challengers vs. SKLPS, Kyambogo
Aziz Damani vs. Tornado Bee, Entebbe
DIVISION TWO
Ceylon Lions vs. Premier, Budo
