THIRD UGANDAN AT CRICKET WORLD CUP
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 AIRBORNE: Osinde in full flight as he delivers a ball during the ICC World Cricket League against Kenya at the Nairobi Gymkhana. In the background is Desmond Chumney, who was fielding at mid-on. |
Profile of HENRY OSINDE
Story and Photography by Innocent Ndawula
Kampala, Uganda
Osinde Fact File:
Full Name: Henry Osinde
Born: October 17 1978, Uganda
Major teams: Uganda XI, Canada
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium-fast
Best Batting: 18*
Best Bowling: 7/53
ODI debut: Canada v Oman at Muckamore, Ireland - 2005
Last ODI: Bangladesh v Canada at St. Johns Antigua, West Indies-2007
Best cricketers: Brian Lara and Michael Holding of West Indies
Supports: West Indies, England, Canada and Uganda.
Other occupation: Accountant/Clerk.
OSINDE is ambition personified. Born in Uganda on October 17, 1978, Osinde is now Canada’s latest acquisition in Cricket sports. He is set to play in the Cricket World Cup series on Wednesday March 14, 2007, at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia in West Indies.
Osinde will be the third Ugandan to play in the Cricket World Cup, after John Nagenda, current presidential advisor on Media in Uganda, and Sam Walusimbi, the U-19 cricket coach and national batting coach. Now Osinde’s role models, these two achievers featured for East Africa’s combined team during the inaugural 1975 ICC World Cup in England.
In his time, Nagenda was a trusted intimidating fierce opening bowler, whereas Walusimbi was said to be a ‘wizard’ with both bat and ball. Their sleek fielding skills and unique leadership acumen continue to live on as true legend in the minds of Ugandans and the rest of the world.
Determined to excel by this legendary inspiration, Osinde is looking forward to adding numerous wickets to his tally of 26 one-day international (ODI) wickets, clobbering a few sixes, and may be spurring Canada to World Cup victory. He told ajabuafrica.com that his “natural talent and cricketing brain” will be his major advantage. Having graduated from a slapdash to the North Americans’ trusted opening bowler, his assertive stance leaves little room for doubt. Osinde is among Canada’s 11 players who will take on Kenya during the competitive World Cup campaign.
Standing at 6 ft 5”, the player spent his early childhood in his home village, Tororo, in Eastern Uganda. He proved to be a quick learner and a consistent performer. While at Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, he obtained the captaincy of his school. At age 20, Osinde made a debut on Uganda’s senior squad. However, he was later ignored by the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) selection Committee in 2001 for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy in Toronto. This did not deter his unparalleled love for the game. With only US $2,000 in his wallet, he entered Canada to work on his sporting career prospects.
Appearing in his second tournament for Canada, his new country, Osinde raked up 7 wickets for 53 runs in 14.1 overs. This bold performance helped him seal a permanent place on the national team.
When he made his debut for the Ugandan national cricket team in 1998, Osinde got pretty used to playing against Kenyan opposition, from Swamibapa CC (one of the leading sides in Kenya), to the Steve Tikolo-led Kenyan national team. He probably had no idea that nine years later, he would face off with the Kenyans at the World Cup. Only that he wouldn’t be wearing Uganda’s yellow and black jersey, but Canada’s red color, with a very 'non-Canadian' name and number 17 at the back. Osinde calls ‘17’ his favorite number, since his birthday falls on same date.
Does Osinde hold any grudges against the Kenyans? Having played with them in the early stages of his career, Oski, as he is popularly known back home,hangs out with the East Africans off the pitch but torments them on it. The Ugandans must be happy because he makes the Kenyans pay for the many losses they have inflicted on their youthful cricket team. If you are a bookmaker and want to win a fortune, predict Osinde to be among the wickets when the two associates exchange pleasantries.
Osinde says he looks forward to the challenge against England’s Kevin Pietersen, and New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming during the group games. Last year during the ICC Inter Continental Cup, Osinde picked 4 wickets for 44 runs. He also rattled the Kenyan batting order with a devastating spell of 4 for 33. This was during the Division 1 World Cricket League (WCL) in Nairobi early this year.
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 TEAMMATES NO MORE: Osinde’s former teammates and current Ugandan stars. (L-R) Benjamin Musoke; Kenneth Kamyuka; Hamza Saleh; and former national captain, Junior Kwebiiha |
Long Journey Home
Uganda failed to qualify for the World Cup when they flopped miserably at the 2005 ICC Trophy. Osinde believes that a lot needs to be done to reverse the cricketing misfortunes in Uganda. He says that Uganda has quite some talent like young opener Roger Mukasa. According to him, the batting techniques of the players require skilled polishing.
Speaking to ajabuafrica.com during his 10-day visit to Uganda after the WCL in Kenya, Osinde offered some tips for successful batting.
“It’s bang-bang cricket now. Everybody wants to hit boundaries instead of dabbing the ball around and getting as many singles,” he remarked.
The fast bowler also queried the professionalism of the local selection committee. The past selection committee used to be accused of being pro-Tornado (Tornado is one of the best cricket clubs in Uganda). The new Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) Chairman, William Kibuuka Musoke, disbanded the committee, and named a new one. The new selection committee is comprised of Yona Wapakhabulo (one of the best batsmen Uganda has ever produced); Emmy Kibirango (former off-spinner), and Steven Luswata (former national opening batsman), as the Chief.
Oski also challenged UCA to get a sponsor for the national team in order for them to go places for modern sporting events.
Family Man
It will not just be thousands of pairs of Ugandan eyes watching Osinde in action at the World Cup. It is quite fitting that in a multi-lingual Canadian squad, various nationalities will be watching. Apart from the Canadians, several Kenyans will be keeping an eye on their friendly foe’s progress, and many more pairs of Mexican eyes will be watching Oski do his stuff at the World Cup. His wife, Nancy Rodriguez Martinez Osinde, is Mexican. They have a seven-month old son called Bryan Raul Osinde. Cricket is not a big sport in Mexico, but it won’t be shocking if Nancy’s parents try to follow their son in-law’s progress in the West Indies. After all, even the non-cricketing fans are likely to be star-struck for the next six weeks.
Cricket Highlights: Chances for Uganda and Tanzania
The Ugandan team starts their preparations for the 2011 World Cup by playing in the ICC World Cricket League Division III in Darwin, Australia due May 27-June 2. Ugandan cricketers will be bidding to qualify for the Division II league. Many experts believe that to be the place where these players belong. They will compete for the two berths at stake with fast-improving neighbors, Tanzania, whose squad averages 21 years. Other contenders include Papua New Guinea (PNG); United States of America (USA); Cayman Islands; Fiji; Hong Kong, and Italy. Although it will be stiff competition, Oski believes that Uganda can qualify for the Division II league. Whether the Ugandan team will be able to rub shoulders with the big boys like Namibia and Denmark is another issue.
On his part, Osinde hopes to rub shoulders with the big boys in West Indies, starting this week. It is going to be a big party in the Caribbean for all the cricketers, and Oski will not want to be left out. A five-wicket haul for Osinde against Kenya on Wednesday will be good for starters. Remember, Oski is a man on a big mission.
ajabuafrica.com News, © 2007
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Flags and Colors of the East African Community
KENYA UGANDA TANZANIA RWANDA BURUNDI
UMOJA NI NGUVU!
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