The Soroti Cricket Academy celebrated a decade of excellence that has seen them touch the lives of the community in Soroti.
The dream of just one man Felix Musana whose love for the game saw him purposefully fulfill the dream of four girls he found trying to play cricket.
Since 2014, the Soroti Cricket Academy has focussed on using cricket to touch the lives, especially of the girl child in Soroti. Over 1000 girls have gone through their hands learning and taking up an interest in cricket; at least 20 of those have gone on to play for the Victoria Pearls and the baby Victoria Pearls.
The Soroti Cricket Academy Chairman Felix Musana spoke about the journey of how far they have come.
It has been a very long decade, I could have given up three years into the whole journey since I had been transferred back to Kampala, for me to find the place between working in Kampala and Soroti was a great challenge, but here we are 10 years later still building dreams. We are grateful to the partners we have had along the way especially the parents because we deal with girls, then the schools in this community and Uganda Cricket Association. The goal for the next 10 years is to have a fully self sustaining program currently 60% is our own resources and to also make sure we have more playing facilities in Soroti. We dream that one day one of our girls will play in one of the franchise leagues in the world so the alot of work but alot more still to do.
The celebration was also an awards ceremony to appreciate the best players from the Soroti Cricket Academy school programs and their cricket clubs participating in the local league.
Soroti City Cricket Club and Olila Cricket Club take part in the local league with the former having both a boys and girls side. Soroti City and Olila Cricket Club contested the final of the women’s T20 league which was won by Soroti City for the second time. Soroti City men’s team managed to reach the promotional final of the men’s Division 2 but failed to gain promotion after losing to JACC.
Janet Mbabazi (Female) and Peter Ocen (Male) won the Player of the Year award for Soroti City while Sarah Akiteng won the Olila Cricket Club Player of the Year.
Victoria Pearls’ youngsters Lorna Anyait (Girls) and Gideon Otueke (Boys) won the Player of the Year awards from the school programs while Josephine Ichumar (Olila High School) and Kirabaki Deo (Teso College Aloet) won the young player of the year awards in the girls and boys categories respectively.
As part of the celebration they also had a Sixers challenge tournament that featured four boys that had both boys and girls. During the tournament, the players were also educated about Gender Based Violence and its effects on society.
The notable alumni of the Soroti Cricket Academy include Victoria Pearls captain Janet Mbabazi, Proscovia Alako, Evelyn Anyipo, Sarah Akiteng, Phiona Khulume, Esther Iloku, Malisa Ariokot, Lorna Anyait who have all featured for the Victoria Pearls.
List of 2024 Award Winners:
- Soroti City Player of the Year (Female) – Janet Mbabazi
- Soroti City Player of the Year (Male) – Peter Ocen
- Olila Cricket Club Player of the Year – Sarah Akiteng
- Lorna Anyait (Olila High School) – Girls School Program of the Year
- Tino Sarah (Light SSS) – Best Fielder Girls School Program of the Year
- Josephine Ichumar (Olila High School) – Young Player of the Year Girls School Program
- Malisa Ariokot (Olila High School) – Best Batter Girls School Program
- Ariago Mitchell (Ligh SSS) – Best Bowler Girls School Program
- Gideon Outeke (Teso College Aloet) – Player of the Year Boys School Program
- Kirabaki Deo (Teso College ALoet) – Young Player of the Year Boys School Program
- Osakan Christopher – Best Fielder Boys School Program
- Abdulai Yusuf (Soroti SSS) – Best Bowler Boys School Program
- Ainebyona Alban (Kiira College Butiki) – Best Batter Boys School Program
