At the time team Uganda returned home on Friday afternoon after finishing last the ICC World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand, the mood was somber, the vividly fatigued players would hardly say a word.
It was clear that their poor in puts – six losses in as many – had not only let them down but also made local body Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) missed out on a lucrative ICC High Performance Program (HPP) funding of $1m (Shs2.475b) which could have improved the sport’s standards here until 2017.
One man who is already in the spotlight is coach Johan Rudolph. The South African could not stop rubbing through his blonde black and grey hair after the contingent took off the Mini Bus at Lugogo Oval.
“Ever since we got to New Zealand (January 1), the boys put in a lot of hard-work,” the South African tactician told Kawowo Sports.
Rudolph won two of the four pre-tournament matches before losing all the six competitive clashes at the Bay of Plenty. “We did all we could but the results never came our way. After all this, I am disappointed in general.” an exhausted Rudolph, flagged by his fiancée Elmarie du Plessis, added.
Having also failed with a 13th place finish at the ICC Global Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE back in November, Rudolph’s seven-month contract with UCA is unlikely to be renewed. The former Namibia coach replaced Martin Suji in July, just two months after the Kenyan and counterpart Steve Tikolo had helped Uganda finish second at the ICC World Cricket League Division III tourney in Bermuda.
Should Rudolph and UCA part ways, cricket will miss a tactician who was keen to every detail of the game and players.
ICC WORLD CUP QUALIFIER – NEW ZEALAND UGANDA’S MATCHES
Uganda 152/10 Netherlands 155/3 (Netherlands won by seven wickets)
Uganda 105/10 PNG 107/1 (P.N.G. won by nine wickets)
Kenya 253/5 Uganda 206/8 (Kenya won by 47 runs)
Namibia 161/9 Uganda 61/10 (Namibia won by 100 runs)
Uganda 149/10 Canada 119/1 (Canada won by 59 runs after D/L)
Nepal 240/10 Uganda 80/10 (Nepal won by 160 runs)
WARM-UP MATCH RESULTS
Uganda 245/8 Canada 174/10 (Uganda won by 71 runs)
UAE 280/8 Uganda 207/5 (UAE won by 73 runs)
Uganda 91/10 Whakatane X1 93/6 (Whakatane X1 won by four wickets)
Uganda 257/2 Whakatane XI 170/10 (Uganda won by 87 runs)