Young Ugandan impresses Bacher

A young Ugandan cricketer, 18-year-old Kenneth Kamyuka, has caught the eye of World Cup tournament director Dr Ali Bacher at the ICC Trophy in Toronto, Canada.

So much so that the executive director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup is suggesting that the youngster be given a trial in South Africa.

Kamyuka is a member of the Uganda team that has had everyone talking in Toronto. The African team came to the tournament ranked 21 out of the 23 competing nations, and they finished in a commendable 10th position overall at an event contested by the amateur teams of world cricket, the so-called associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Dr Bacher described Kamyuka as a "very lively young fast bowler" who captured seven wickets in the 41 overs he bowled during the tournament. In addition, he showed himself to be swashbuckling lower-order batsman, hitting an undefeated century off just 54 balls to take Uganda from 90/8 against Malaysia to a highly respectable total of 220/8.

"Knowledgeable people I have spoken to in Toronto agree that Kamyuka is a player of immense potential. I will speak to the United Cricket Board (UCB) when I return home to suggest that we bring him to South Africa and give him a trial, like they do in soccer, to test that potential."

Dr Bacher heaped praise on the whole Ugandan team for their exemplary showing in Toronto. "They are a 100 percent indigenous team and were truly the spark of the tournament. They ended in 10th place and just missed out on higher honours by losing a playoff with the United Arab Emirates."

Dr Bacher said a lot of the credit for Uganda's improvement should go to Hoosain Ayob, a South African who, as the ICC's development manager for Africa, had done fine work in driving the game on the continent.