Sunday, March 26
*Patidar Vs Challengers, Entebbe
Challengers Cricket Club player-coach Mohammed Aneef is adamant their new recruits will propel the club back to the top where they “belong” as they bowl off the new campaign on Sunday against Patidar Cricket Club at the Green Oval in Entebbe.
The three-time league champions have lived in the shadows of themselves in part due to the rise of Aziz Damani – who have won the last five titles – but as they look to regain supremacy, the side has in their ranks added all-rounder Kenneth Waiswa and youngster Siraje Nsubuga who both crossed from Damani.
Challengers finished third last year, two points behind the champions, but with the acquisition of the duo, and with the club finalizing talks with another Damani player Bilal Hassan, Aneef believes they are now well equiped to halt Damani’s dominance.
“We are 100% confident we will compete favourably this year,” Aneef told The-SportsNation.
“With these national team players we have brought in, we believe we have added in quality which should return us to the top where we belong.”
The decision to leave Damani was not an easy one for Waiswa, but the desire to challenge himself inspired him.
“I had to get out of a place where I was starting to feel comfortable. I’m here to challenge myself, and I hope we win it.”
This year’s competition will be played in a cup format and not it’s usual league set up.
The competition dubbed the Uganda Cricket Association T20 Tournament will have two groups of five teams each.
Challengers are in Group B that has Avengers Cricket Club, Nyakasura Cricket Club, Wanderers Cricket Club and their Sunday opponents Patidar.
Sunday’s game will be the opening, and only match in Division 1
Group A which has champions Aziz Damani, it’s junior side Aziz Damani Development, last year’s runners up Ceylon Lions, Kutchi Tigers and Africa Cricket Club – the oldest cricket club in Uganda- bowls off next Sunday with the champions starting their title defence against Kutchi Tigers at Lugogo.
