The U19 girls’ national team is set to compete at the ICC under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2022 in Gaborone, Botswana from the 1st to the 6th of September.
The team has been flagged off today -Wednesday- by the National Council of Sports represented by David Katende and the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Cricket Association Alan Mugume.
The tournament is a qualification process for the first-ever Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup that will take place in South Africa from January 2023.
National U-19 Girls cricket Coach Yusuf Nanga says his team will work as a unit, and the girls are ready to combat any opponent since every one of the teams in the contest is a debutant at the stage.
“We believe we will qualify for the World Cup to make Uganda proud. The team is fully prepared, the girls have been in school and are fresh from the Schools competition, so we chose the best out of the pack.” Yusuf said
“I know my opponents have come for battle as well, but despite knowing little about them, we have been paying close attention to each one of them and we are ready.” He added.
Yusuf Nanga is a teacher by profession, and he says his passion to coach the “Unders” is driven by the youngsters’ willingness to learn, their readiness to try out new techniques, and above all, discipline towards the sport.
With nations drawn into group A and B, Uganda is in Group B alongside host Botswana, Namibia and Sierra Leone. Group A has Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
The top two sides from each group will advance to the semi-finals and later finals.
The winner of the tournament will earn the only single converted spot to the World Cup.
The squad of 14 players and 4 officials will fly out of Uganda on Thursday early morning and arrive in Botswana on Thursday evening.
On Saturday morning -3rd-, they will take on Namibia in their 1st game, as neighbors Rwanda take on Nigeria U19s Women, simultaneously.
The Team: Jimia Muhamed (Captain), 2. Annet Anume, 3. Patricia Timong, 4. Recheal Achan, 5. Sandra Achwao, 6. Lonah Anyait, 7. Kevin Amuge, 8. Malisa Ariokot, 9. Immaculate Nandera, 10. Asumin Akurut, 11. Witney Nasuuna, 12. Naume Mbwali, 13. Proscovia Alako, 14. Agnes Nakakande
Team Officials: Yusuf Nanga Head Coach, 2. Ivan Kakande Assistant Coach, 3. Imran Tugume Physiotherapist, 4. Luiza Nabulwala Team Manager.
