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With the Cricket Cranes now focused on 2023, Mukasa credits coach Lawrence Mahatlane who he says has been a father figure to players including himself.
Experienced Ugandan batsman and former cricket cranes captain Roger Mukasa has opened up on the dry spell he went through for the better part of 2022 but asserts that it only made him stronger.
Mukasa has had his place on the Cricket Cranes roaster threatened on several occasions, but that didn’t stop him from working hard to reclaim it.
"I heard and read a lot of opinions about me mostly negative during the better part of 2022,” Mukasa told Pulse Sports before adding.
“But I am unfazed, because what happened to me happens to even the top athletes we know like Ronaldo, Chris Gayle and Ben Stokes."
Mukasa was overlooked during the ICC DIV III cricket league tournament Uganda hosted but returned to the fold at the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier B but struggled as Uganda finished fifth.
'Papa' as he is fondly known also made the trip to Kigali and helped Uganda win the inaugural Tri-Nations T-20 tournament but Mukasa adds that he was partly to blame for the inconsistencies.
"I didn't give the game enough time, I would train less because I had an 8-5 job but that's different now.”
“I am now giving cricket a lot more time and I think I can go an extra 3-4 more years because, with Cricket, experience is key. Look at players like Frank Nsubuga and Kenyan cricketer Collins Obuya," he added.
With the Cricket Cranes now focused on 2023, Mukasa credits coach Lawrence Mahatlane who he says has been a father figure to players including himself.
"Coach is patient, he lets the players grow into the character required and also the team has healthy competition.”
“Simon, Rizu had a good year but also everyone wants to do well so I am positive about 2023," he noted.
Mukasa will be hoping to play a crucial role in the Cricket Cranes fold in 2023 as he did when he was Uganda's top batsman from 2015 to 2019.
Roger Mukasa at a glance
DOB: May 22nd 1989
Batting: Right Handed
Bowling: Right arm medium
Cricket Cranes debut: 2006
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