Kenya train sights on old foes Uganda

Kenya-Uganda sports rivalry is one of the most intense in Africa, and to a larger extent in the world. Hordes turn up to watch encounters between these neighbouring nations and the situation is not any different in cricket.

Current form counts for nothing and there is no pre-match favourite in the build-up to these clashes.

Ahead of the two countries’ meeting in the Four-Nation One Day International Quadrangular Series at Nairobi Jaffrey’s Oval in Lavington on Friday, both benches, incidentally led by Kenyan tacticians, were exhibiting full respect to each other.

Kenyan legends and former teammates Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo are head coaches for Uganda and the host team respectively. 

Tikolo was also Kenya head coach until early this year when Cricket Kenya sent him packing alongside his deputy Martin Suji. That alone is a good ingredient for fireworks in the highly anticipated fixture.

And although Kenya are unbeaten and already through to the final of this tournament, their coach Odoyo said they did not need extra motivation to engage a “higher gear” for a game against the “old enemy”.

“Games between Kenya and Uganda are always exciting, tough and go down to the wire,” said Odoyo, a former all-rounder, who featured in four International Cricket Council World Cups between 1999 and 2011.

“The rivalry is there and the intensity is going to be high. But we want to maintain our unbeaten record in the tournament."

“We know the opposition very well and have always done well against them. We will look to continue executing the game’s basics and our game plan.”

Kenya captain Rakep Patel was equally respectful of the opposition and singled out a handful of players they will look to stop. “Even if Uganda hasn’t played in two years, they are still a very competitive side,” said the 28-year-old all-rounder.

“They have experienced guys that had retired but are now back. Left-arm bowlers Charles Waiswa and Jonathan Ssebanja plus their returning skipper Davis Karashani are bowlers we must play with caution. And then we must stop batsmen Roger Mukasa and Arthur Kyobe. They always score heavily.”

For winless Uganda, Tikolo, said, the rebuilding process continued for a team that has been starved of action. “I am happy with what I have seen thus far. We are not a bad side,” the 45-year-old tactician said.

“Usually form doesn’t matter for contests between these two teams. We are taking this tournament seriously and would like to keep improving as we gear up towards the World Cricket League tournament in 2017. If we get anything above 250, it will be a competitive match.” Tikolo, however, will need four of his star players including captain Karashani, Mukasa, Ssebanja and top order batsman Hamu Kayondo to pass a late fitness test overseen by renowned Kenyan physiotherapist Moses Kimani.

Saudi Arabia engage Qatar in the other encounter  - a do-or-die fixture at Nairobi Gymkhana – with the winner progressing to Saturday’s final where they will face Kenya at Nairobi Jaffrey’s Sports Club Ground.