When the African Games get underway on Thursday in the three cities of Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast in Ghana, cricket will for the first time be part of the menu.
The African Games formally known as the All-African Games have taken place since 1965 when the tournament first saw the light of the day, but it had never featured the gentleman’s game.
That’s no longer the case though as this edition- the 13th- will feature the game. cricket fans across the continent will now watch their favourite sport at this multi-sport competition, and Ugandan fans will in particular be among those with a keen eye.
Uganda is among the eight countries that will debut cricket at this competition. The nation will be represented by both the Women and the Men’s teams, with the women’s- the Victoria Pearls- set to take to the field first.
The Victoria Pearls who just last week returned from India where they had gone to fine tune themselves for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers due in Dubai in April will bowl off the tournament against bitter rivals Kenya on Thursday at Achimota Complex.
The two who last met at the Kwibuka Memorial in Rwanda last year in June renew rivalry, and Consy Aweko, the Victoria Pearls captain insists her side is well rested and gunning for victory against their neighbors.
“We had the chance to rest well amidst our quick travel from India, the team has used the rest day to our advantage to see that we recover fully and prepare for our first game against Kenya.
“As a team, we are ready to face Kenya. It’s our first game so we won’t take anything for granted. Playing against Kenya is an opportunity for us as Uganda to see that we get our first win.”
Uganda is placed in Group B. Their other group opponents include Zimbabwe who they evened up against in India during their tour and Rwanda, another East African rival.
The post African Games: Victoria Pearls Face Kenya In Opener appeared first on Live from ground.
