By Sebowa Emmanuel
The Victoria Pearls have unveiled their squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier preparations in India and the groundbreaking All Africa Games in Ghana, charting a bold path with a blend of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers.
The exclusion of Irene Alumo, Proscovia Alako, and Patricia Malemekia signals a strategic shift, while the inclusion of Phionah Kulume, Gloria Obukor, and Sarah Walaza injects fresh vigor. Notably, debutant Immaculate Nandera’s inclusion from Soroti Academy adds anticipation to the lineup.
Immaculate Nandera, a rising talent from Soroti, earned her spot in Uganda’s senior women’s cricket team, the Victoria Pearls, making her debut at 16.
With a stellar record at Olila High School and Soroti Cricket Academy, she’s poised for success. The team gears up for a training camp in India ahead of the All Africa Games and T20 World Cup Qualifiers. Coach Lawrence Ssematimba focuses on batting techniques as they prepare for challenging fixtures.
The 12-day training camp at the I Can We Can (ICWC) Omtex Academy in India serves a dual purpose, preparing the team not only for the T20 Global Qualifiers in Dubai but also for the historic Cricket event at the All Africa Games in Ghana. Lawrence Ssematimba, the Victoria Pearls head coach, emphasized the importance of addressing batting weaknesses identified during the December qualifiers.
Ssematimba stated, “We struggled with our batting in December during the qualifiers, and that has been our main focus as a group. We hope to use the experience in India to work on the players’ techniques to ensure we start to be confident in our batting.”
The coach expressed confidence in the team’s ability but acknowledged that application had been lacking. The India tour aims to rectify this, fostering a more robust and confident batting performance.
With eyes set on both the Gold medal at the All Africa Games and securing a spot in the T20 World Cup during the Dubai qualifiers, the Victoria Pearls face a challenging yet crucial period. The team’s preparations will be closely watched, especially after the Cricket Cranes’ challenging tour in India, where they lost seven out of nine games during their preparations.
As the team embarks on this journey, the aspiration is to etch their names in history by triumphing in both tournaments. With resilience and determination, the Victoria Pearls aim to showcase the burgeoning prowess of women’s cricket in Uganda on the global stage.
The Team
Consy Aweko (Captain), Janet Mbabazi, Kevin Awino, Immaculate Nakisuyi, Rita Musamali, Stephanie Nampiina, Evelyn Anyipo, Sarah Akiteng, Marisa Ariokot, Lorna Anyait, Phiona Khulume, Gloria Obukor, Sarah Walaza, Esther Iloku, Immaculate Nandera
Officials
Lawrence Ssematimba (Head Coach), Deusdedit Muhumuza (Assistant Coach), Imam Tugume (Physiotherapist), Richard Okia (Team Analyst), Mary Nankinga (Team Manager).
Victoria Pearls Tour To ICWC Omtex Academy
Date Activity Time
22/02/2024 Arrival 10:00
23/02/2024 Practise 10:30
24/02/2024 1st T20 13:30
25/02/2024 2nd T20 Uganda v Zimbabwe 10:30
25/02/2024 3rd T20 Uganda v Zimbabwe 13:30
26/02/2024 Practise 10:30
27/02/2024 4th T20 Uganda v Zimbabwe 10:30
27/02/2024 5th T20 Uganda v Zimbabwe 13:30
28/02/2024 Practise 10:30
29/02/2024 6th T20 13:30
1/3/2024 Practise 10:30
2/3/2024 Practise 10:30
