2004 U19 World Cup Squad - Who Were They And Where Are They Now?

Just over 12 years ago, Uganda’s Under-19 cricket boys team made their debut at the grand stage featuring in the 2004 ICC Under-19 World Cup hosted in Bangladesh and won by Pakistan.

The Ugandan team, coached by Kenyan legend Tom Tikolo made it through the qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia unscathed and had a preparation tour in India.

Come the World Cup proper, the Baby Cricket Cranes lost all three Group B games and a further two in the plate competition. But they wrapped up their tour on a high by earning a a five-wicket win over Canada in the placement tie.

Today, we look at the members of the Ugandan team that took part in the 16 team tournament.
Clive Kyangungu Bigirwa: A jack of all trades then, the wily spinner captained the team but had an average tournament by his standards.

Kyangungu lost his place for the team’s final two games. An engineer by profession, the former ACC player has since settled in the UK and also served in the Scottish army.

Michael Kintu Wambudhe: Hails from a cricket family that includes siblings Ronnie (umpire) and Rounders’ Aggrey Kintu. Was one of the three wicket-keepers for the team. But he has since become a productive in-swing bowler.

Martin Ondeko: Currently the Operations Manager at Uganda Cricket Association (UCA), Ondeko was largely responsible for ensuring Team Uganda won a game at the World Cup.

Was unlucky not reach a century, his man-of-the-match knock leaving him stranded on 99 as Uganda chased down Canada’s total of 231 to notch a five-wicket victory with three overs to spare.

Denis Musali: Frequently, the assertion is made that wicket keepers are born and not made and Musali is one such person that fits that description.

He was the first choice wicket-keeper and completed the tournament with five brilliant catches. One of the few players that have stuck with Wanderers through thick and thin and guiding them back to the topflight league this season.

Musali has also given back to the game and is one the founders of Generation Next Cricket Academy that gave birth to Uganda’s first-ever youth league.

Hamza Almuzahim Saleh: Undoubtedly the best batsman of his generation. Together with Ondeko, they put on 121 for the third wicket before he was run out for a solid 50 in the victory over Canada.

The right-hand batsman averaged 26 runs and went on to captain the team at its second appearance in 2006.

Signed for KICC this season but like his national team career, he has unpredictably been on and off.
Davis Arinaitwe Karashani: The all-rounder was a permanent fixture in the national team and went on to be named national team captain, a role he held until his shock resignation two years ago.

Such was his all-round ability that he was named Player of the Tournament at the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Bermuda.

Karashani, who left the Cricket Cranes fold citing a persistent knee injury as one of the reasons, currently features for league champions Tornado Bee.

Like Musali, he is one of the two brainchilds behind the foundation of the Generation Next Cricket Academy.

Arthur Kyobe: His blitz man-of-match knocks during the qualifier in Windhoek ensured Uganda made the World Cup grade. But Kyobe punched way below his belt in Bangladesh. The enigmatic left-hander played four matches and scored just 28 runs - all the runs coming in the consolation win against Canada.

Kyobe went on to play semi-professional cricket for Oman-based side Passage to India and Sikh Union in Kenya but currently plays for Challengers in the local competitions.

The 2013 Uspa Cricketer of the Year is also one of a few batsmen in the country to have scored more than 200 runs in an innings.

Raymond Otim: A half-brother to Patrick Ochan, Otim stood out as the best fielder on the team. He later added leg spin to his repertoire which made him hard to ignore for national team duty..

Patrick Ochan: A born workaholic, Ochan earned his keep by bowling a whole lot of 47 overs. Later he successfully sought asylum in Australia after guiding the Cricket Cranes to victory at the 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Darwin.

Currently, he turns out for West Torrens in Adelaide and Tornado Bee whenever he is in the country. He also represented Uganda in the tennis Davis Cup.

Jimmy Okello: Was on the team as a top order batsman but did not have the best of tournaments. He sought asylum in Australia together with Ochan. Unlike the latter, he has not featured for the Cricket Cranes again but has made a name for himself on the pitch. He plays as a striker for Adelaide Cobras and always donates some kit to charity when in Kampala.

Fred Isabirye: Much was expected of him going into the World Cup after big knocks in the qualifiers.
His lights unfortunately shut out while at the Wold Cup. But Isabirye kept his pride intact with consistent shifts on the local circuit in Uganda. He also lives in Australia and features for Tornado Bee while on holiday.

Emmanuel Isaneez: The paceman did not disappoint. He finished with a haul of nine wickets including best figures of 6/37 in a man-of-match performance against Bangladesh.

A couple of years ago, he featured for the Rwanda national team. Currently he is the Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) Uganda ambassador and assistant coach of the national Under-19 team.

Ronald Ssemanda: He was another versatile sportsman. An all-rounder on the team and with an ability to play as other games including hockey, tennis and badminton.

The solid player has not featured for the national team since the knock he suffered after running into teammate Brian Masaba in 2011. He is currently a lecturer at UCU Mukono.

Daniel Ruyange: A right-arm medium-fast bowler now featuring for Challengers, Ruyange possessed all-round abilities which have not really come to the fore as expected in his early career. 
His versatility has also seen him start the Rol Tennis Academy in Namboole.