Uganda’s national women’s cricket team, Victoria Pearls will play for bronze at the 13th African Games on Wednesday when they take on Nigeria.

The Victoria Pearls failed to go past South Africa in the semifinals as they fell to a huge 50-run defeat on Monday afternoon.

Consy Aweko won the toss and asked South Africa to bat but her decision was not backed in the field as the team conceded many singles and didn’t use the half chances.

South Africa managed to score 122 runs in their 20 over despite losing four wickets, one of which was Aweko’s 100th in WT20i.

The run chase for Uganda didn’t get off to a good start as Immaculate Nakisuyi went for cheap. Gloria Abukor and Esther Iloku tried to keep up with the scoring rate with some good running between the wickets but the boundaries didn’t come as the asking rate kept climbing.

Just after the power play, Uganda couldn’t hold and lost three wickets for cheap dropping to 33/4 and from thereon, the mountain became so high for the rest of the line-up eventually getting cleaned out at 72.

Nigeria who are Uganda’s opponents in the bronze medal match lost to Zimbabwe.

Uganda Cranes stars will battle in the Quarterfinals of Africa’s premier club competition, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The draw for the 2023/24 quarterfinals has been conducted by the Confederation of African Football and has pitted Young Africans against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The highly anticipated two-legged clash will see Ugandan internationals Khalid Aucho and Gift Fred (Young Africans) play against their former Cranes captain Denis Masinde Onyango (Sundowns).

The first legs will be played on March 29-30 while the return legs are scheduled for April 5-6, 2024.

In other draws, record winners and defending champions Al Ahly (Egypt) face Tanzania’s Simba, ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire take on Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia while TP Mazembe (DR Congo) will battle with Angola’s Atletico Petros.

Semifinals

In the semifinals, the winner between Esperance and ASEC Mimosas face the winner between Yanga and Sundowns and the other semifinal will feature winners in games involving TP Mazembe/Petro Atletico and Al Ahly/Simba.

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has named a squad of 26 players ahead of the two international friendly games against Comoros and Ghana.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) on Friday confirmed that Cranes will face Comoros on 26th March and Ghana four days later in Marrakech, Morocco.

On the squad named, two new players are getting their first call to the national team and these are Toby Peter Sibbick, a 24-year-old defender on the books of Hearts of Midlothian in Scotland and the other is striker Carl James Mujaguzi who plays for FC Athlone in Ireland.

Goalkeeper Giousue Bellagambi who played for the U23 team last year in friendlies against Comoros and Ghana has also been summoned.

Meanwhile, Steven Mukwala returns to the national team fold after a while as does Allan Kyambadde.

Summoned Squad

Goalkeepers: Tom Ikara (BUL FC), Jack Komakech (Vipers SC), Giousue Bellagambi (Huddersfield Town FC)

Defenders: Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa), Elvis Bwomono (St. Mirren FC), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell FC), Toby Sibbick (Hearts FC), Halidi Lwaliwa (Bregalnica STIP), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod), Nicholas Mwere (BUL FC), Denis Kaka Omony (Soltilo Bright Stars FC)

Midfielders: Allan Kyambadde (El Dakhieya SC), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Austin FC), Moses Opondo (AC Horsens), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek SC), Ashraf Mugume (KCCA FC)

Forwards: Milton Karisa (Vipers SC), Denis Omedi (Kitara FC), Rogers Kassim Mato (Brena Strumica), Moses Aliro Okabo (URA FC), Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko), Muhammad Shaban (KCCA FC), Fahad Bayo (MFK Vyskov), Carl James Mujaguzi (Athlone FC), Shafik Kakande (Soltilo Bright Stars FC)

Uganda’s Victoria Pearls suffered a four-wicket loss to Zimbabwe in their second game at the African Games on Friday afternoon at the Achimota Complex, Ghana.

Zimbabwe won the toss and put Victoria Pearls to the bat but the Ugandans never got going as they were cleaned out for 72.

While the Lady Chevrons didn’t pick many early wickets save for Gloria Abukor who went in the third over, the Zimbabweans were happy to register dot balls as the Victoria Pearls struggled with the bat.

Only Immaculate Nakisuyi 17(40) and Ritah Musamali 13(20) reached double-digit run-scoring.

In the defense of the small total, Victoria Pearls did pretty well to stay in the game despite picking their first wicket courtesy of Janet Mbabazu with 35 runs on the board for Zimbabwe.

Musamali and Nakisuyi would puck the next four wickets as what seemed an easy chase turned into a contest as Zimbabwe needed 16 runs off the final three overs.

Nakisuyi conceded 6 runs in the 17th, Mbabazi conceded 5 in the next despite picking the wicket of Nyasha Gwanzura and skipper Consy Aweko had to defend 4 in the final over but started with two wides and defeat was eminent for the Ugandans.

The teams will take Saturday off and Uganda will return to action on Sunday against Rwanda.

Uganda Women’s Team for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger second leg in Montevideo, Uruguay and All Africa Games in Accra, Ghana has been named.

There are changes to the team that played in Dubai during the opening leg of the Challenger Series as Black Pearl’s speedster Grace Auma returns and will give the team speed that it lacked.

Also making a return to the team after a while is Avengers utility back Juliet Nandawula who could be crucial at breakdowns with her quick ball recycling.

Janat Nandudu and Yvone Najjuma make way for Auma and Nandawula with the rest of the group that was in Dubai maintained.

Uganda made history by breaking into the top four in their first-ever challenger series.

The Team

1. Lydia Namabiro
2. Mary Gloria Ayot
3. Sarah Kirabo Nayiga
4. Grace Nabaggala
5. Rachael Mufuwa
6. Agnes Nakuya
7. Ritta Nadunga
8. Lona Sandra Amoli
9. Mayimuna Nassozi
10. Peace Lekuru
11. Juliet Nandawula
12. Grace Aum

Officials

• Head Coach: Charles Onen
• S&C Coach: Ssebalamu Kigongo
• Team Physio: Nelson Mayeku
• Team Manager: Prossy Nakakande

Pre-tournament favourite Peace Kabasweka scored 3-over 74 on the opening day of the 2024 Entebbe Ladies Open at the par-71 Entebbe Golf Club on Thursday.

The Uganda Ladies Open winner who also won this very tournament in 2022 has a three-stroke lead over Melon Kyomugisha after the opening 18 holes.

Meanwhile, Judith Komugisha (81) in third place is 7 shots shy from the leader and in fourth position after 18 holes is Harriet Kitaka who scored 11-over 82.

Bernadette Musanabera, playing off handicap 11 and Cathy Kwagala (Handicap 14) are joint-tied for fifth with 84 gross apiece.

In the men’s category, scratch golfer Elton Thembo scored 1-under 70 for the lead on Day One.

Cosmas Ociti (Handicap 6) is level par while Joseph Cwinya-ai scored 2-over 73 to complete the top three.

On Day Two, the pressure group of Kabasweka, Komugisha and Kyomugisha will tee off at 12:40 pm while Thembo, Ociti and Cwinyaai tee off at 11:50 am.

Match Summary: Uganda Women vs. Omtex ICWC

• Omtex ICWC 67/9
• Uganda 68/4

Uganda won by 6 wickets

Victoria Pearls were devastating with the ball as they picked up an empathetic victory against Omtex ICWC on their training Tour to India ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Sarah Walaza (3/4) opened the bowling and had good control with the new ball conceding just for runs her quarter of overs.

Skipper Consy Aweko (3/5) and Sarah Akiteng (3/14) ensured that there was no comeback for the hosts who finished on 67/9 in their 20 overs.

In the chase, Gloria Obukor who knocked a half-century against Zimbabwe did not stay for long but her opening partner Immaculate Nakisuyi (21) found her grove with a calculated knock and got support from Rita Musamali (12 not out) who knocked off the winning runs.

Esther Iloku (10) and Janet Mbabazi (11) had double-digit scores in between as Uganda registered a six-wicket win.

The Victoria Pearls will play their final tour game tomorrow (Friday) against the same side before returning to Uganda.

The regular season champion Vanguard women’s basketball team collected more hardware on Wednesday as the Golden State Athletic Conference coaches named Uganda’s Melissa Akullu as Player of the Year.

Akullu is the third player in program history to repeat as GSAC Player of the Year and also becomes just the fifth player at VU to capture All-GSAC honours three times in a career.

The Gazelles centre dominated in every facet, leading the conference in scoring (24.4 ppg), rebounding (13.7 RPG), field goal percentage (.624) and steals (3.3 spg). Nationally, she ranks sixth in scoring, third in rebounding, eighth in field goal percentage and fifth in steals.

She finished the regular season with 19 double-doubles, including a stretch of 14 straight games. Facing consistent double teams, Akullu scored 20 or more points 17 times and surpassed the 30-point mark on seven occasions. She was unstoppable on January 15 at Bethesda with a career-high 41 points to go along with 14 rebounds and eight steals.

Akullu made 10 or more field goals in 13 contests, including a 13-of-23 effort in a 65-64 win over The Masters. She finished that game with 30 points, 17 boards and four steals.

The three-time All-GSAC performer landed on the VU single-season list in several categories, including 11th in points (562), first in scoring average, eighth in field goals made (232), first in field goal percentage, fifth in total rebounds (315), first in rebounds per game, 10th in steals (75) and tied for fourth in steals per game (3.3).

She also captured two NAIA National Player of the Week awards and three GSAC Player of the Week accolades this season.

Match Summary

Uganda 145/6 in 20 Overs

• Gloria Abukor 50(37)
• Esther Iloku 32(37)

Zimbabwe 139/8 in 20 Overs

• Consy Aweko 2/9
• Sarah Walaza 1/23

Uganda won by 6 runs

Uganda’s Senior Cricket National Team (Victoria Pearls) registered a six-run win over their rivals Zimbabwe on Tuesday at the Omtex ICWC Cricket Institute.

The two teams are on a training tour to India ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers that will take place in Dubai, UAE in April.

The Victoria Pearls came into the Tuesday fixture on the back of a two-run loss to the Lady Chevrons suffered on Monday.

Zimbabwe won the toss but unlike yesterday’s game, Mary Musonda asked Victoria Pearls to bat first and Gloria Abukor had a player-of-the-game knock, finding six boundaries en route to a solid half-century off 37 balls.

While Abukor’s opening partner Immaculate Nakisuyi fell quickly, Esther Iloku (32) who came in at 3 stuck in to forge a 48-run second-wicket partnership.

Janet Mbabazi (15) joined Iluko and put together a 34-run partnership before she departed and was quickly followed by her replacement Stephanie Nampiina. However, Ritah Musamali (17) helped Uganda to post a competitive 145/6 in their 20 Overs.

The defence of the total got off to a poor start with Evelyn Anyipo and Mbabazi conceding 19 and 16 runs respectively in the opening two overs as Kelis Ndhlovu easily found gaps in the field for boundaries.

However, Sarah Waraza arrested the bleeding with the wicket of Sharne Mayers who was caught at deep midwicket by Mbabazi.

With Zimbabwe’s run rate just over 10, skipper Consy Aweko introduced herself in the attack and rewards came with her third ball as Chiyedza Dhururu was caught behind by Kevin Awino.

From that 8th over onwards, the Victoria Pearls slowed down Zimbabwe’s run-scoring and once the top order was cleaned, the runs dried up as the asking rate kept going up despite some misfields from the Ugandans.

Masamali was able to defend the 13 runs required off the final over and Uganda registered 6-run win.

Philip Wokorach is back as Uganda Sevens head to Montevideo, Uruguay for the second leg of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger that is scheduled for March 8-10.

Wokorach who last played for Uganda at the Africa Sevens in Zimbabwe missed the opening leg in Dubai last month and his return adds attacking prowess to the team.

Nobert Okenyi who also missed the Dubai leg due to injury returns to add speed and strength on the wing. Timothy Mugisha also gets the nod as William Nkore, Roy Kizito, and Davis Shimwa make way.

Aaron Ofoyrwoth who finished the Dubai series on crutches has fully recovered and makes the trip to South America.

Uganda Sevens were drawn in Pool C and will goup against a familiar foe in Germany, Papua New Guinea and hosts Uruguay.

1. Adrian Kasito
2. Norbert Okenyi
3. Aaron Ofoyirwoth
4. Isaac Massa
5. Phillip Wokorach
6. Desire Ayera
7. Ian munyani
8. Alex Aturinda 
9. Pius Ogena
10. Timothy Mugisha
11. Denis Etwau
12. Timothy Kisiga