Head coach Davis Turinawe named Derrick Bakunzi as skipper of his final 14-man team for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 World Cup Qualifiers earlier this week.
The former national team wicket-keeper trimmed the bunch of youngsters from 19 after numerous sessions in a fortnight’s residential camp at Lugogo.
Team selection may not have been challenging but most concentration has already turned to the mind boggling opening fixture against Namibia this Saturday at the lakeside oval in Entebbe.
“Its a tough call,” Turinawe said. “We cannot afford to slip up. There is only one slot for all of us (Group A) and we have to fight to get there. All the boys know what is at stake.”
Uganda is grouped alongside the boys from Windhoek, Zambia as well neighbours Tanzania.
Namibia is the only side in the eight-side tourney that was at the ICC Youth World Cup in Australia last year.
They mainly not have progressed far but carry a lot of experience in their youngsters whereas Uganda will bank on mainly home advantage to outwit the Southern Africans.
Uganda will play Zambia at Lugogo the next morning before finishing the round-robin matches with a final game against Tanzania in Entebbe on May 27. May 28 is reserved in case of inclement weather that could alter the fixtures.
The top two sides from groups will play each other in the playoffs on May 30-31.
TEAM UGANDA: Derrick Bakunzi (Captain), Faruk Ochimi (Asst. Captain), Abdalah Lubega, Simon Ssesaazi, Abdalah Sezooba, Lawrence Ssempijja, Uzama Mukaya, Ivan Baidhu, Varinder Singh, Emmanuel Hasahya, Simon Ayella, Arnold Otwan, Irishad Suleman.
RESERVES: Joseph Oyet, Ivan Kakande
Officials: Coach: Davis Turinawe, Assistant Coach: John Trust Mayeku, Manager: Martin Ondeko
GROUP A – Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia
GROUP B – Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Botswana
OPENING FIXTURES – MAY 25
Kenya vs. Botswana – Lugogo
Zambia vs. Tanzania – Kyambogo
Uganda vs. Namibia – Entebbe
MAY 26
Zambia vs. Uganda – Lugogo
Kenya vs. Sierra Leone – Kyambogo
Nigeria vs. Botswana – Entebbe