By HOMELAND MEDIA TEAM
Thanks to the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) for their continued sportsmanship predisposition of celebrating the game of Cricket folklores like Ivan Kyayonka (RIP), Sam Walusimbi, and John Nagenda. Kudos guys.
For many, a Ugandan would not know the genesis of the sport in the country and the ‘who is who to that effect. Before UCA was instituted as an ICC associate member in 1998, two young men, John Nagenda and Sam Walusimbi had had their cricketing knacks noticed already, across the East African outer.
And, their names will continue to be mentioned in the circles of Cricket in Uganda, East Africa, Africa, and beyond, and they even played at the 1975 Cricket World Cup in England. Then they constituted the East African select side. The East African select had players from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.
They both (Walusimbi and Nagenda), are still alive and kicking, a thing that we can easily call a deserved Cricket life well lived. Sam Walusimbi was the first to be celebrated early this year by the local Cricket body. The story today is of another boundless Cricket talent John Nagenda. Tomorrow – 3rd December 2022 at the Lugogo Cricket Oval, UCA will be celebrating yet another legend of the game of Cricket in Nagenda. He is a true legend of the gentleman’s game. Nagenda deserves the honor of a celebration match that will be played to appreciate his contribution to the sport.
Born 25th April 1938, Nagenda is a former Rwanda born Ugandan cricketer who played one ODI (One Day International) in the 1975 World Cup for East Africa. He appeared in one first-class cricket match in England in 1975, and played cricket for Uganda, before designing himself as a writer of fiction and poetry in the 1960s, regarded as having been one of the pioneers of writing in East Africa.
John Nagenda has also served as a Senior Media Advisor to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for decades. As a member of Abagurusi (the old guards), the Uganda Cricket Association and the entire cricket fraternity are set to honor Nagenda this Saturday at the Cricket Oval, Lugogo.
Fact File:
Full Name: John Nagenda
Born: 25th April, 1938
Current Age: 84 years 221 days
Bats: Right-Handed
Bowls: Right Arm Fast Medium
Teams: East Africa
And, their names will continue to be mentioned in the circles of Cricket in Uganda, East Africa, Africa, and beyond
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