For the last 12 days, Uganda’s senior men’s national cricket team – the Cricket Cranes – have been tucked away from the Kampala buzz, conducting an exciting but intensive residential training bootcamp in Jinja as part of their build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final later this month in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The squad of 17 – an immensely talented mix of local and overseas-based players was under the tutelage eye of head coach Abhay Sharma and his assistant Jackson Ogwang. The camp featured specialized training sessions at:
• Jinja Senior Secondary School Oval – Skill Development and Match Simulations
• Hared Fitness Health Gym – Strength and Conditioning
• Paradise Hotel – Swimming, Recovery Ice Baths, and Cool-Down Sessions
• Jinja Backpackers – Team Bonding, Games, and Residence Activities
The backroom staff, led by Team Manager Charles Waiswa, Strength & Conditioning Coach Emmanuella Oroma, Physiotherapist Japheth Ndawula Juuko, and Convener of Selectors Nehal Bibodi, played key roles in ensuring a holistic camp. Notably, Juuko’s tireless physio work kept the camp injury-free, a huge boost heading into a busy schedule.
The players engaged in five high-intensity practice games, with notable shows from skipper Riazat Ali Shah, left-arm spinner Henry Ssenyondo, and newcomers Gaurav Tomer and Sumeet Verma.
