After a heated Uspa meeting dominated by deliberations on the upcoming elections, all the sports journalists needed was a welcome distraction from the ‘politics’.

And what better way to have that than acquiring equipment, from Uganda Cricket Association (UCA), to revive the defunct Media Cricket Club (MCC) team of yesteryears.

“We want to maintain the cordial relationship we have kept with journalists over the years,” UCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justine Ligyalingyi said at the handover ceremony held at Lugogo Cricket Oval on Monday.

“We shall do whatever we can to revive their passion for the game, including holding the usual UCA Journalists Seminar at the beginning of the year to refresh their knowledge about rules, terminologies and conditions as Uganda prepares to host the ICC Division III World Cricket League (WCL),”

Hosting rights
ICC, during their Board Meeting in South Africa last month, awarded hosting rights of the WCL to Uganda after deeming UCA’s proposal better than Malaysia and Canada, a welcome far-cry from 2014 when they were denied the honour over terrorism fears in East Africa.

The Cricket Cranes are undertaking drills at Fairway Hotel, Lugogo Cricket Ground and Kyambogo Oval under the stewardship of Kenyan coach Steve Tikolo, assistant Michael Ndiko and youthful coach Jackson Ogwang.

Meanwhile, the Uspa executive also used the opportunity to unveil the football jerseys donated by the body’s patron and Minister of Sports Charles Bakkabulindi.

By MAKHTUM MUZIRANSA