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Fairytale journey for Ugandans in Singapore
Whilst Mukasa struggled to find form with the bat early on, his bowling made necessary noise and ensured he wasn’t a bit part player. PHOTO BY ARJUN MENON
It was November 15 last year, in the midst of a mountain-laden setting, on a cricket ground in Al Amarat, Oman when two familiar foes of the cricketing world were locking horns in an International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division III match.
The Ugandans were in their yellow and red jerseys whereas the Singaporeans donned their crimson red and black. Singapore batted first and a less than convincing batting performance saw the South East Asians muster up 204 all out but a great spell of opening bowling made up for the shortcomings with the bat as they managed to bundle their East African opponents up for just 141 enroute to a 61-run victory.
The background
Not only was this a crucial win for Singapore but one of relief. The Ugandans had always been a thorn in the side for the Singaporeans, having denied them promotion in 2014 when they lost by a solitary run and once again losing to the Cricket Cranes, as the Uganda National Cricket side is known, in their very own backyard by 66 runs which once again put a spanner in the works for Singapore’s bid for promotion in 2017.
Both teams had less than satisfactory results moving on in the ICC WCL III showpiece in Oman and while Singapore once again placed in the dreaded third spot, the Ugandans had a tournament to forget with the wooden spoon in sixth. However, from the Ugandan manager Jackson Kavuma’s hotel room in Oman towards the end of tournament, a meeting took place during which both nations agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and took their relationship to another level.
Within the space of a month, Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) contacted Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) requesting that three Ugandan cricketers; skipper Roger Mukasa, the vastly experienced left-arm paceman Charles Waiswa and the up and coming all-rounder Kenneth Waiswa be sent to Singapore for a period of six weeks to partake in the SCA Elite Player Series (EPS), a high performance tournament initiated by the SCA that brings together the best 40 players in Singapore who are then spread across three teams, the SG Crescents, SG Crimsons and the SG Stars, all names derived from the symbols and colours of the Singapore flag.
The three Ugandans made up part of an overseas cohort invited to play in the EPS including two Batswana (Botswana), three Pakistanis, one Zimbabwean and an Englishman.
The first two series were played in 2018 as a T20 series which concluded in the space of a week but in 2019, this was stretched out and this time included a 50-Over Series along with a Twenty20 series played concurrently. Waiswa and Mukasa were placed into the SG Crescents franchise whereas Kenneth Waiswa was put on the SG Crimsons rota.
Kenneth’s early strides
As the EPS went on, the Ugandans, were now being called affectionately by a nickname or greeted with a hug or fist bump by their team mates have all contributed to their respective teams. Kenneth Waiswa, playing for the rampant SG Crimsons started off with a bang; three wickets in two matches at an economy rate of 3.0 runs in the 50-Over series while in the T20 series, his wily use of change of pace and cutters had him claim five scalps in as many matches.
Kenneth was however unfortunate with his untimely injury and even after extensive physio, could not play further part in the EPS, but could still smile however as the SG Crimsons sealed the 50-Over Series on March 3.
Mukasa’s big impact
The SG Crescents met the SG Crimsons in the T20 finals and won a low-scoring encounter easily. Mukasa who had a rough start to the series had by now won four man of the match trophies, one for his bowling exploits and three for his batting. Mukasa scored 203 runs in seven innings in the T20 series, which included a brilliant display of hard hitting when he brutalized the SG Stars bowling attack to score 75 off 55 deliveries which included four massive sixes.
Mukasa also showed his adaptability with the bat in the 50-Over Series with a contribution of 114 runs in four innings with a best score of 85 runs off 111 balls in their successful chase against SG Stars. Roger then scored an unbeaten 49 off 35 balls in the final to claim his fourth but not last MOM award. Roger won his fifth MOM award when he pummelled the Singapore XI bowlers for 80 off 49 and took 2/10 in the EPS Challenge Match between a Singapore XI and a World XI.
Charles’ all-round finesse
Charles Waiswa, besides being a hit as guest commentator in the media box, was also instrumental in the Crescents line up. Charles snared six wickets in the 50-Over Series in just three matches with a miserly economy rate of 3.8 runs and also exhibited an inner skill never seen before in his repertoire.
He showed some batting nuance with a knock of 54 runs in three matches. This even prompted the Crescents coach to send him in at number 4 during one of the 50-over matches where he showed his teammates a thing or two of hanging around and valuing his wicket.
Deservedly, the three Ugandans, contributed massively to their teams, and all left Singapore with winners’ medals. Kenneth Waiswa with the 50-Over Series trophy whereas Roger Mukasa and Charles Waiswa snapped up the T20 Series diadems. Besides the cricket, they also won many hearts within the Singaporean cricketing fraternity and were always greeted with smiles and handshakes whenever they turned up at the grounds.
What matters above all, conversations about the Source of the River Nile in a place called Jinja, the majestic Silverback Gorilla, the vastness of Lake Victoria and the exploits of Ugandan cricketers in Lugogo, Kyambogo and Entebbe have all been given life as stories told from these three Pearls of Africa in Kenneth, Charles and Roger and a true celebration and tribute to Ugandan cricket and the beautiful nation of Uganda did take centre stage in the island city of Singapore.
The writer is Singapore’s Cricket Development Manager
