David GOMBE
The Baby Cricket Cranes head to Dar El Salam Tanzania for the U-19 World Cup Qualifiers seeking a consecutive World Cup appearance. The tournament will run from July 21st- 31st at two venues the University of Dar El Salam and Dar Gymkhana.
Uganda will be seeking a consecutive World Cup appearance after making its third U-19 World Cup appearance in the West Indies in 2022. Uganda has been to the World Cup in 2004, 2006, and 2022 and success in Tanzania will be their fourth appearance. The 2024 U-19 World Cup will be held in Sri Lanka.
The Baby Cricket Cranes have been training under the guidance of Head Coach Emmanuel Isaneez and his Assistant Head Coach Robinson Turinawe. The team had a 10-day training camp in India at the Sanjay Farm as part of their preparations for the qualifiers. The final 16 squad has spent the last seven days in a residential camp in Entebbe.
The squad has six players who were part of the U-19 World Cup in the West Indies, Captain Fahad Mutagana, Pius Oloka, Joseph Baguma, Brian Asaba, Ronald Omara, and Yunus Sowobi. Gerald Olipa who has been prolific with the batter will be one of the key players for the Baby Cricket Cranes.
Six teams that include hosts Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Kenya will be battling for one slot in the World Cup. Uganda will open its campaign against a tricky Namibia and finish the campaign against Sierra Leone.
The team will travel to Dar El Salam onboard Uganda Airlines on Friday 21st/07/2023 and will play their 1st game on Sunday 23rd/07/2023.
The Final 14: Fahad Mutagana ©, Pius Oloka, Ronald Omara, Yunusi Sowobi, Musa Majid, Nyero Jonathan, Gerald Olipa, Balidawa Ali, Joseph Baguma, Brian Asaba, Conrad Lubwama, Abdul Aziz Tandia, Jaffar Ochaya, Anas Baig
Officials: Emmanuel Isaneez (Head Coach), Robinson Turinawe (Assistant Coach), Habiba Klusum (Physiotherapist), Richard Okia (Team Analyst), Rokani Sylvester (Team Manager)