S. GitahiCricket Kenya to name team for Kwibuka T20 tournament this weekend
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 01.06.23. | 20:47
The team reached the final of last year's tournament; losing by 44 runs to the eventual champions Tanzania
Cricket Kenya is expected to name its final Kenya women’s national team squad for the annual Kwibuka T20 memorial tournament scheduled for 9-17 June this Sunday.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport on Thursday, Kenya’s Director of Women's Cricket Pearlyne Omamo confirmed the Lionesses participation in the ninth edition of the tournament set to be staged at the Gahanga International Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
The clock is ticking! ⏳🏏 Only 9 days, 🇰🇪🇺🇬🇧🇼🇳🇬🇷🇼#KWIBUKAWOMENST2023 pic.twitter.com/DThyDFcTwb
— Rwanda Cricket Association (@RwandaCricket) May 30, 2023
“We will indeed be among the participants for the Kwibuka tournament,” Omamo said, affirming that the tournament will in the long-run act as a preparation for the team to curve a way past the ICC World Cup Africa Division Two qualifiers penciled for later this year.
“We are looking forward to having a younger team that will blend with the experience we have and of course the plan is to win the competition and rebound from our performances in the Victoria Cup series last month,” Omamo, a former cricketer mentioned, adding that the team would have a new captain following the retirement of former skipper Sharon Juma last month.
Sharon Juma making her exit on the same ground where she made her overseas debut. Congratulations on a well earned career spanning 14 years @YWomeninsports pic.twitter.com/N0IzBi7X2K
— Cricket Kenya (@CricketKenya) April 22, 2023
The women’s side kick-started their season last month when they played in the Victoria Cup T20 Series in Uganda; finishing fifth and with no wins in the four-nation tournament that was eventually won by neighboring Uganda.
Having won the competition a record four times, Kenya will be among the favorites in the ninth edition of the Kwibuka tournament that will also include hosts Rwanda, two-time champs Uganda, Botswana - making their second appearance - and Nigeria.
Defending champions Tanzania, who saw off Kenya in last year’s final courtesy of a 44-runs victory, will however be missing from this year’s competition.
Under the tutelage of Francis Otieno, the team is in their fourth week of preparations and according to team manager Brenda Mogusu, optimism is high in the camp ahead of team travels on 7 June.
“We have been working on some areas that needed correction, we are ready to make amends,” Mogusu said, adding that the team is under no outside pressure before they take the field.
The first match for the Lionesses will be on 10 June against Uganda, a doubleheader against Rwanda and Nigeria on 11 June before wrapping up the first round of the double round-robin fixtures against Botswana on 12 June.
