Under the bright skies of Lugogo Cricket Oval, Uganda’s U19 boys, the Baby Cricket Cranes, were flagged off with high hopes and great expectations.
As they embark on their journey to Lagos, Nigeria, for the ICC U19 Boys Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifiers, their mission is clear, secure the lone available spot for the 2026 U19 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The team, led by captain Gerald Olipa, received an official send-off from Sarah Chelangat, the assistant General Secretary of the National Council of Sports (NCS).
Under the guidance of head coach Emmanuel Isaneez, they will battle against five other teams: Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia (the defending champions), and hosts Nigeria, in a tournament running from March 28 to April 6 at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval and the TBS Cricket Oval.
Uganda’s history in the U19 World Cup includes three previous appearances in 2004 (Bangladesh), 2006 (Sri Lanka), and 2022 (West Indies) but their recent performance in the 2023 qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, left much to be desired.
They narrowly avoided relegation to Division Two, a memory that fuels their hunger for redemption this time around.
Among the 14-man squad, six players, including captain Gerald Olipa, Christopher Kidega, Conrad Lubwama, Jonathan Nyiiro, Ali Balidawa and Musa Majid Ramathan carry valuable experience from the last qualifiers.
As part of Nnalubaale Sports’ pre-tournament coverage, we spoke with Christopher Kidega, who shared insights on his journey, lessons learned, and aspirations for this campaign.
Reflecting on the previous competition, Kidega acknowledged the challenge posed by strong opponents but expressed confidence in Uganda’s preparedness:
“The experiences in the last U19s were quite tough because back then, the teams had good players. But now, there are new emerging talents, especially in teams like Namibia and Kenya that show potential of qualifying.”
He believes the Baby Cricket Cranes are better equipped this time:
“I think we have a very good chance because we are well prepared, both skill-wise and mentally. We are good to go, and I think we can make it to the World Cup.”
On a personal level, Kidega is determined to make a mark, using this platform as a stepping stone to the senior national team:
“Personally, I want to score as many runs as possible because this will build my momentum toward making it to the senior men’s team. I have the skills and potential; I just need to stay calm, stick to the basics, and play for my country.”
The Baby Cricket Cranes have had ample preparation, participating in high-level tournaments like the Easter Youth ODI Series against Tanzania and the recently concluded Batball Maxx, where all 14 squad members gained valuable match experience.
Uganda will open their campaign against Tanzania on March 29 at the TBS Cricket Oval, aiming to set the tone for their qualification quest.
With a mix of experienced players and debutants eager to prove themselves, the Baby Cricket Cranes are poised for a fierce contest in Lagos.
The Traveling Squad
- Gerald Olipa (C)
- Devansh Patel
- Richard Sohera
- Christopher Kidega
- Jonathan Nyiiro
- Robert Owili
- Conrad Lubwama
- Abraiz Mir Ali
- Peter Ochen
- Musa Majid Ramathan
- Gurjivan Singh
- Ali Balidawa
- Aziz Tandia
- Jordan Oketcho
