Unlike last year when dark horses Nyakasura School stormed the party and dumped 15-time winners Busoga College Mwiri to reach the semifinals of the Pepsi Schools Cricket Week, the big four; Mukono Parents, Jinja SS, Kololo SS and Mwiri have lived up to the billing this year and will face off in today’s semifinals at Lugogo and Kyambogo Oval.
Defending champions Mukono Parents face Kololo SS in a repeat of last year’s semifinal fixture at Lugogo Oval this morning whereas 2002 winner Jinja SS lock horns with record winners Mwiri at Kyambogo Oval.
Mukono defeated Kololo by 42 runs last year but with two of their star players; Derrick Bakunzi (Best Batsman last year) and all-rounder Simon Ayella done with school, the holders have lost their aura of invincibility.
They lost to rejuvenated Mwiri by four wickets in a low-scoring thriller and their two other stars in last year’s Player of the Tournament Simon Ssesaazi and Lawrence Ssempijja, who ply their trade for Charity Trust Fund Cricket Club, have struggled for consistency.
But their coach Frank Nsubuga, the new national captain, is unfazed.
“We beat Kololo SS in the final of the Central Region qualifiers two weeks ago. We are not scared. My boys know what to do and some of them have league experience.”
Kololo SS coach Jackson Okwang will demand for big plays from his top players including Siraje Nsubuga (Challengers CC) and Boris Aguma (Charity TF).
But Emmanuel Isaneez and Abraham Oduch, the two men in charge of Mwiri, are certain that they can topple ‘stubborn’ Jinja SS despite the former outlasting them in the final of the Eastern region.
“We are like a hot plate,” joked Isaneez after yesterday’s victory over Mukono. “We want to burn everything in our way. Our plan is to restrict them to 40 all out and if we bat first, we will be targeting 120 runs.”
Mwiri will be led by former King’s College Budo captain David Wabwire, who boasts of free wicket-taking Collins Okwalinga (14 wickets), Richard Agamire and Zephania Arinaitwe in his ranks.
Jinja SS coach Habib Mugalula will bank on Sadam Oyaga, Eddie Agaba, Steven Wawase and big-hitting all-rounder Kenneth Waiswa.
BC Mwiri vs. Jinja SS
Kololo SS vs. Mukono Parents
Final: 2pm at Lugogo Cricket Oval
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