The first-ever Batball Open Central Edition tournament is set to take place in Entebbe on March 18th-19th, 2023, with the aim of identifying and nurturing cricketing talent in the central region of Uganda.
Organized by Batball Uganda Limited in partnership with the Uganda Cricket Association, the tournament will create a system to make it easier for talented individuals to progress to the national team level while also promoting the ‘FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS’ campaign.
The event is intended to identify, accelerate and enrich talented individuals in designated regions and supplement the regional infrastructure of cricket in respective regions.
The four teams competing in the Batball Open Central Edition are Naddibanga, Ensega, Akasumagizi, and Kalooli, named after the birds that are common to the region.
Martin Ondeko, CEO of Batball Uganda, expressed his excitement for the tournament and the potential for talented players to progress to the national level.
“Having been in the system, I realized that we haven’t had enough exposure for these young boys. By the time they get to the national team level, they are a bit raw. We want to create a system where getting to the world cup is very easy,” he said.
The best 16 players from the Batball Open Central Edition will progress to the next challenge, where they will meet the best players from other regions to compete in Batball X later this year.
The tournament is also intended to create a social impact tagged ‘FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS’ through various direct and indirect impact activities.
The tournament schedule and fixtures have been announced, with nine matches to be played at Entebbe Oval. The matches will be played amidst local crowds as well as TV viewership within Uganda, Africa, and beyond.
“We don’t think we are where want to be, but we know we are on a journey, and atleast one of our biggest targets is that we have managed to give the youngsters a chance to play more cricket and we have done this in the regions. But we have also been able to identify players who had not been seen.” He added.
Muhammed Abdallah, a player in the under 19s team and Captain of team Kalooli, expressed his excitement and anticipation for the upcoming tournament.
He stated that it is a pleasure and an honor to participate in the tournament and that he, along with his teammates, will be preparing themselves for the July qualifiers.
“I expect a lot from tournament because it has been a pleasure and an honour to participate in it. We the under 19s will be preparing our selves for the July qualifiers and this is a great opportunity for us to show our talents. As an individual I have been training with the senior team and I have learnt alot from playing with them.”
The event promises to be a great success, and the winners will have the opportunity to compete in Batball X later this year, comprising the best players from each region.
The tournament is expected to create a positive impact on the region and put Entebbe on the global cricket map.
