After three years in charge of the National Men’s Cricket team, Laurence Mahatlane is set to part ways with the Cricket Cranes!

Lawrence Mahatlane’s story in the Cricket Cranes dugout begun three years ago when he was appointed the national team coach in October 2020, replacing Kenyan, Steven Tikolo.

A successful stint he’s had in Uganda, but due to conflicting interests at the UCA administration, his contract won’t be renewed – The-SportsNation has learnt.

The South African, whose contract is expiring in October, was expected to lead Uganda at the Africa Cup that gets underway next month in South Africa, in Uganda’s defence of the Cup, but with the current development, that won’t be possible.

He was also due to lead Uganda at the World Cup Qualifiers in Namibia in November. Uganda finished fifth at the previous qualifiers that were held in Zimbabwe, but even with the Cricket Cranes opening bowlers Juma Miyaji and Cosmos Kyewuta battling time for fitness, there was belief in Ugandans that a better display compared to last year’s would be yielded. With the gaffer out, such hopes may have been diminished.

Mahatlane has won among other trophies the Africa Cup for Uganda, but he will mostly be remembered for handing a number of youngsters their national team debuts.

Among those are Juma Miyaji, Cosmos Kyewuta, Pascal Murungi, Alpesh Ramjani and Joseph Baguma who have gone on to become mainstays on the national team.

Siraje Nsubuga and Robinson Obuya were the most recent players he handed their debuts.

Mahatlane was the coach of South Africa U19 team at the 2020 World Cup in South Africa.

He was the assistant coach for the Higveld Lions in 2000 before taking up the role of U19 South African coach in 2014.