When the Division III tier was introduced, many looked at it as a league that would interest only veterans, has beens, rookies that couldn’t get into the playing squads of Division I and II as well as Johnnie-come-latelys.
Well, well, well! That was the course of the events until this season when the league attracted more than just ordinary faces.
With the allure of securing a ticket to Division II, Kampala Pirates led the way by prizing some familiar faces out of mini-retirement.
In their ranks, was former Cricket Cranes wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Mwanja and Baby Cricket Cranes’ wily left-arm orthodox spinner Gerald ‘Exton’ Mubiru.
Mwanja quickly settled into the Kampala Pirates’ setting, a side dominated by South Africans working in Uganda and whose style of cricket is best defined as play smart and party harder.
Making the difference
He was the difference as Pirates brushed aside King’s College Budo Cricket Club and Avengers on their way to the Division III title.
Mwanja, who will not be part of Pirates’ campaign this season after he rejoined Rwanda Cricket Association to volunteer as a General Manager, scored 370 runs at an average of 187 with one half century and three tons. He also held onto nine fielding dismissals to notch a hat-trick of Best Wicketkeeper, Best Batsman and Most Valuable Player’s accolades.
Mwiri Cricket Club’s Quarish Kasujja nicked the Best Fielder’s award with eight fielding dismissals whereas his teammate Pande Bonnie won the Best Bowler’s award with 24 scalps.
Kampala Pirates walked away with a cheque of Uganda Shillings 1.5 Million for scooping the title.
MEN DIVISION THREE INDIVIDUAL WINNERS
Most Valuable Player: Joshua Mwanja (Kampala Pirates) 10 points
Best Batsman: Joshua Mwanja (Kampala Pirates) - 370 runs in 5 innings
Best Bowler: Bonnie Pande (Mwiri) - 24 wickets
Best Fielder: Quarish Kasujja (Mwiri) - 8 dismissals
Best Wicket-keeper: Joshua Mwanja (Kampala Pirates) - 9 dismissals