The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) alongside Batball, officially launched the Batball Open Central Edition under the theme ‘FIght Against HIV/AIDS’ on Monday 13th at Lugogo Cricket grounds.
Batball is a registered company with an objective to create a better pathway for maturing and identifying young talents through grassroots to global model based on progressive cricket tournaments.
The central edition is the fourth after having three from different regions of North which was targeting to create awareness for gender based violence in the region, in the Nile region (Busoga) it was all about creating awareness for early marriages whereas in the North it was once again creating awareness for gender based violence.
Martin Ondeko the Batball chief operating officer hinted on helping shaping the boy child who is mainly the cause of the issues they are trying to fight.
“Most times people say we are neglecting the girl child, but the same is being done to the boy child. When you look at the social issues we are trying tackle using this tournament, you realize that the people who cause these issues are actually the boys.”
“Because they’re idle, they end up getting involved in gender based violence, impregnate teenage girls. But if they’re engaged and busy playing some cricket, it takes their mind away from certain vices that could be detrimental to the public.” said Martin Ondeko
The tournament will bowl off on Saturday 18th at the Green Oval in Entebbe and it is set to have four teams with players under the age of 19.
The teams are named after the birds in the region with names of Akasumagizi with Christopher Kidega the team captain, Ensega captained by Hamid Munigwa, Naddibanga with Ronald Omara the captain and Muhammad Abdullah Yakubu Assume captaining Kalooli.
After the central edition, each region will field 16 best players in the next challenge called Batball X that will be played in June. This will be followed by Batball Max which will be played by the best players from Batball X and a franchise side that will consist of foreign players.
The inaugural edition of Batball Open was held in Soroti last year and was won by Ejibat. Buutu won the Nile edition in Jinja while Agak won the third edition held in Gulu.
