David GOMBE
The Soroti Cricket Academy celebrated a decade of excellence last weekend and at the same occasion they awarded the best performers of the 2024 season.
The academy started in 2014 has weathered lots of trials and challenges during its decade of existence but the achievements far out weigh the challenges.
The celebration dinner that was held at the Soroti Cricket Academy had academy alumni, cricket parents and friends from the cricket fraternity in attendance.
The weekend long celebration had a number of activities lined up that included an awards dinner during which the best performing players of the 2024 season were awarded.
The winners included players from the Soroti School program as well as the best players from the two cricket clubs (Soroti City Club and Olila Cricket Club) that are part of the Soroti Cricket Academy.
Janet Mbabazi (Female) and Peter Ocen (Male) won the Soroti City player of the year awards while Sarah Akiteng won the Olila Cricket Club player of the year award. Soroti City Club won the women’s T20 league title for the second year in a row while Olila Cricket Club managed to reach the final of the same. Soroti City men’s team reached the semifinals of the men’s Div 2 title missing out on promotion to the top flight.
The Soroti schools have also dominated the girls schools cricket week with Olila High School winning it three times in a row and missed out on a fourth title in a row after losing to their sister school Light SSS. The last two editions of the girls schools cricket week have also been hosted by Soroti which has helped improve on the number of playing facilities in the region. Soroti now boasts of at least five different cricket facilities that can host a cricket game.
The Chairman of Soroti Cricket Academy Felix Musana took the guests through the journey of the academy since inception and what the plan is for the next years.
“Its been a long journey for us to get thus-far, i was transferred back to Kampala after only three years and to find the balance of looking after the academy and my own work was hard. However, here we are celebrating a decade of building dreams. We could not have gotten here without the support of parents who entrust us with their children since we work with girls, the schools in the community that allowed us to use their facilities and also given scholarships to our players and Uganda Cricket Association who give us technical and financial support. We hope that in the next decade we can become a self sustaining program and have a proper cricket ground that can even host international games. The success has ultimately helped us stay committed to this cause and we hope we continue to touch the lives of the community” Felix Musana Chairman Soroti Cricket Academy.
As part of the 10 year celebration, eight teams played a six aside tournament on Saturday and the games were used to educate the the participants about the effects of Gender based violence.
The notable alumni of the Soroti Cricket Academy include Victoria Pearls Captain Janet Mbabazi, Baby Victoria Pearls Captain Jimia Muhammad other players such as Phiona Khulume, Sarah Akiteng, Evelyn Anyipo, Proscovia Alako, Malisa Ariokot, Lorna Anyait, Esther Iloku, Glorai Obukor, Akurut Asumin and Patricia Timong.
For Soroti Cricket Academy the decade has been a proof of concept for how much sport can change the lives of a community.
List of 2024 Award Winners:
*Soroti City Player of the Year (Female) – Janet Mbabazi
*Soroti City Player of the Year (Male) – Peter Ocen
*Olila Cricket Club Player of the Year – Sarah Akiteng
*Lorna Anyait (Olila High School)–Girls School Program of the Year
*Tino Sarah (Light SSS)–Best Fielder Girls School Program of the Year
*Jospehine Ichumar (Olila High School)–Young Player of the Year Girls School Program
*Malisa Ariokot (Olila High School)– Best Batter Girls School Program
*Ariago Mitchell (Ligh SSS) -Best Bowler Girls School Program
*Gideo Outeke (Teso College Aloet)–Player of the Year Boys School Program
*Kirabaki Deo (Teso College ALoet)–Young Player of the Year Boys School Program
*Osakan Christopher– Best Fielder Boys School Program
*Abdulai Yusuf (Soroti SSS) -Best Bowler Boys School Program
*Ainebyona Alban (Kiira College Butiki)–Best Batter Boys School Program
