As I walk on the boundary rope with team manager Rokani Sylvester, Africa Cricket Club (ACC) is playing Premier in the penultimate game of the first round.
ACC set 96 and for Premier this seems like a routine win, they are quickly out of the blocks and by the 10th Over they are 33/1. After the water break things change when Amos Kyazze is introduced into the attack he takes a wicket off his 3rd delivery and away he runs off in his trade mark fly emirates celebration, Trevor Kapere gets 2 wickets from the canteen end with some medium pace and just like that ACC is back in the game.
Premier is stuck at 61/7 and Emma Odeng bowls out the last man Premier is all out for 66 giving ACC a 30 run win. Rokani celebrates with a fist thump and a sigh of Yes! Earlier, he didn’t seem interested in the win but it’s now clear how much it meant to him. He runs off to take pictures of the team coming off the ground.
My first encounter with ACC was when I was in Senior Two in Busoga College, Mwiri. Our heroes then Muddu Jacob, Musenze Ben and Chris Engola were playing for JACC who were playing ACC that day in Jinja.
As the young kids they always took us along as a learning experience and also pick sixes and return the balls quickly. Stephen Luswata and Charles Lwanga (R.I.P) scored some runs but the highlight was Frank Nsubuga who hit monster sixes.
ACC was a model club, with some of the most brilliant players in Uganda cricket and of course JACC lost and no memory stands out of their innings but ACC had left a mark on us.
While Wanderers was deemed a club for Budonians, most Mwirians found comfort in ACC the likes of Henry Sebulime aka Santo (R.I.P), Richard Nsubuga (Zungu), Kwebiiha Junior and Richard Okia. It’s no wonder the men (Jacob Muddu, Ben Musenze and Chris Engola) we had gone to support on that day ended up playing for ACC.
ACC so much like my Wanderers are the traditional indigenous cricket playing teams in Uganda adding Tornado and JACC. The cream of Ugandan cricket played in these teams and they went on to represent the national team.
ACC, now in its 7th season in the second tier of Ugandan cricket, have come close to promotion a couple of times but have failed most times at the last attempt. Wanderers and Tornado joined ACC in Division 2 this season with only Nile of the traditional clubs still in Division 1.
ACC was founded in the 1970s around the time when the Asian community was expelled out of the country by then President Idi Amin. Prince George William Mawanda is one of its famous players. Not only limited to royalty other famous sons of ACC include current UCA trustees AK Lutaaya , Stephen Luswata, former National team Captain Junior Kwebiiha, Frank Nsubuga, Richard Okia, Joel Olweny, Charles Lwanga (R.I.P), Kenneth Kamyuka and so many others.
Traditional clubs were founded on the premise that one generation looks after another and this responsibility is passed down but a lost generation has led to the near demise of these clubs. An irresponsible generation has left the clubs bare as there was no one to take up responsibility when the founding fathers couldn’t carry on the day the day roles of managing the team.
Managing clubs goes beyond match days, someone has to keep an eye on players, organize logistics on match days as well as lobby for resources from members. It took the intervention of Jackson Kavuma and his team to save ACC from near death, this renaissance saw Rokani take over as team manager. A team full of workaholics who only get time to train on Saturdays can never compete for the title let alone mount a credible promotion campaign. Their availability for games is dependent on their work schedules and family commitments, an addition of young players has helped numbers on match days but they are too average leaving a lot of work for the older guys. Even with his weak knees, Emma Odeng has to open the bowling and Amos Kyazze is relied on for wickets, captain Richard Lwamafa has to score the bulk of the runs.
ACC used to attract the crème de la crème in the country then but those days are long gone. As they battle Premier in Buddo the team is full of journeymen and some little known young players. I ask Rokani why some known names are missing and he says the commitment to the club is limited to a few as some use family commitments as an excuse not to show up. He gets a call from their long suffering fan Chris Engola who is keenly following from Nairobi; he can’t do much from far away apart from pray for his mates. Amos Kyazze enters to bat replacing Kenneth Legesi both very excellent players in their young days but are now faced with the task of having to step up in their latter years when they hardly have time to train in between busy work schedules.
The rise of Asian sides has been one of the reasons for the decline of traditional teams like ACC. Asian teams have been willing to break the bank to sign some of the best players on the local scene especially the young talent. The lack of deep pockets has meant that traditional teams are unattractive to the best players. This has meant that teams like ACC can’t compete with the best and have been resigned to Division 2 where they can at least compete. The glory days seem long gone with ACC last winning the local league in 2006 before dropping to Division 2 in 2010.
However, Rokani is optimistic they can rise again if all members of the club come together. The foundation of traditional clubs is root deep because of their ability to keep and bring people together. ACC can have comfort that the club is in the hands of people with the ability to keep it afloat. Most of the current crop is made up of young corporates who can draw some of their resources to look after the team.
The major challenge for ACC is to know where they want to be – either as a top team which requires a lot of money or stay where they are right now – which is mediocre for a club of its stature. Finding the balance for Rokani and company will be key in trying to move forward for ACC.
As the players walk off they all can’t believe they have defended 96 runs. Apart from Trevor Kapere of the young ones, Amos Kyazze and Emma Odeng each has picked 3 wickets. They can’t believe their luck as they have lunch as they discuss their next game against Tornado in Entebbe.
Rokani is very optimistic about the future and he says;
The immediate short term goal is to play in the Division 1 as soon as possible.
Our sustainability plan is to attract sponsorship through our networks, increase our revenue through subscription by identifying and engaging ACC well-wishers. Our eventual long term plan is to have our own ground, attract, retain quality talent, develop young talent and promote the game of cricket.
ACC has been able to partner with Hima Cement this season and the relationship can only grow from here on. Hima also have partnerships with Vipers (Football), Heathens (Rugby) and Desh Rally Team driver Ambrose Byona.
In their first attempt with cricket, they have partnered with a historic club like ACC and there won’t be any disappointments. ACC has got the leadership willing to make progress.
The key to keeping these teams alive even my own Wanderers is to never go away from the premise of why they were formed in the first place. Clubs can only survive when they have members who have them at heart, contributing money isn’t enough but actual involvement in the running of things is key. It’s the responsibility of the current generation to look after the legacy of teams like ACC.
The clubs need to wake up become better organized administratively and then leverage on the good will of most of their members. If you read through the alumni of the club it has some very good quality people that can help the club go to Division 1.
At the moment, Division 2 is wide open and anyone can gain promotion. In a marathon those that finish best always win doesn’t matter how you started. ACC has a big chance if they can have a strong second round winning at least 4 games and hoping other results go their way. But if they gain promotion this season, they will need new additions to help them stay in Division 1.
As the team left to go watch the other game at Lugogo between Challengers and Tornado B they were satisfied with a days’ work but they know the real work lies ahead.