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Sport draws different people from different times and worlds to each other like magnets, and cricket defines this to the dot.
The Ugandan border entry points will welcome four lady cricket national teams, including three fellow East African nations in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Entebbe’s shores, having already received the Gulf nation of the United Arab Emirates for their first-ever cricket assignment in Africa.
The Victoria Series is a premier T20 women’s cricket event organised by Uganda Cricket Association, envisaged to attract the best nations on the continent and beyond, creating an opportunity for Victoria Pearls to suit up against the crème de la crème from outside our borders but equally, allow Ugandan fans a chance to watch their Victoria Pearls in action in an international event.
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My series of opinions about the event starts with the timing of season two, what might be different, and what to expect.
Following the International Cricket Council’s deliberate push for nations to organise their own bilateral and multi-lateral events to increase participation, governments continue to put their best foot forward in showcasing their event organisation credentials.
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12:47 - 14.04.2023
CRICKET Victoria Pearls in better mental space
Mental strategy is significant to athletes as they battle different aspects to succeed in their craft.
Rwanda’s annual Kwibuka event, named in memory of the genocide atrocities of 1994, is closing in on celebrating a decade since it was first played. It deserves credit as the tournament only gets bigger and better.
In 2019, Uganda conceptualised the Victoria series, named after Africa’s largest lake, and successfully executed it, hosting Kenya and Zimbabwe as the latter turned out as inaugural champions.
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20:40 - 15.04.2023
CRICKET Cricket Kenya names squad for the Victoria Twenty20 Series
Veterans Queentor Aoko, Mary Mwangi, Veronica Abuga, and Josephine Abwom will miss out on the tournament.
Exactly four years later, in April, season two of the Victoria series gets rolling from 18th – 23rd at Lugogo cricket oval in a five-nation tournament.
As day follows night, the event-hosting craze caught up with Kenya in December 2022 as they successfully hosted a four-nation tournament that the Victoria Pearls won.
15:19 - 13.04.2023
Victoria Series: No pressure for Mbabazi, braced for UAE meeting
Janet Mbabazi is the best female cricket player in the country. Her experience and abilities will be vital for the Victoria Pearl at the 2023 Victoria Series. She joined us for the Final Verdict.
The take-home of this piece is to recognise how lucky we are to be alive to watch this ‘battle’ for women’s T20 events hosting rights supremacy unfold before our eyes in our lifetime.
And I can categorically confirm that the think tank at UCA intends to make this edition memorable for the players and all stakeholders by providing an experience to remember and not just a tournament.
I expect the event launch in Jinja, the camaraderie created at the hotel, the standard of cricket played, the accolades on offer, and fan engagement activities to leave a ‘can’t wait to do this again’ effect on all those involved.
15:50 - 12.04.2023
Victoria Series: Captain Aweko raring to go
Victoria Pearls captain Consy Aweko is optimistic about her side putting a spirited display when the Victoria Series gets underway next week at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.
Tomorrow, I will attempt to unearth the data-driven pre-event team breakdown.
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