The growing reputation of Ugandan cricket received another boost with its national team's encouraging showing at the recent Africa Cricket Association Cup.

The all-indigenous Ugandan squad was the best performed of the non-ODI/Test countries present at the closest thing Africa has to a continental championship, finishing fourth after earlier beating a South African Developmental XI.

Uganda's opening bowling attack of medium fast Kenneth Kamyoka and medium pacer, Steve Nsubuga, were its strength, conceding less than two runs an over throughout the tournament.

Such is the potential of the Ugandan squad, nine were part of its Under 19s team which took out the East and Central African Championships the previous week against Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi.

Zambia, primarily comprising South Asians and Britons, lost both its matches at the Africa Cup despite good batting from Marcus Perterese, and the all-round ability of Aris Ebrahim.

Team official, Rasheed Patel, said Zambia conceded a winning position against the Zimbabwe Developmental XI through simple intimidation. "It was only the name 'Zimbabwe' which caused them to lose."

West Africa's first Africa Cup entry, Nigeria, came into the tournament having to overcome several hurdles.

Apart from playing out of season, the Nigerian national team had not appeared together for over two years. Additionally, five players were representing Nigeria for the first time.

Despite losing all three matches, a plus was its ability to take wickets, 10 against Uganda and nine each against the South Africans and Tanzania.

The Kenyans' decision to field star players, including Steve Tikolo, caused disquiet, however Kenya Cricket Association official, Mr. Robbie Armstrong, said there was no choice.

"What people forget is that we have sponsors and other people to please and they expect to see the best Kenyan team put on the field."

Equally contentious was the absence of Namibia.

"At the end of the day, we decided that the money could be better spent on our development programme," Namibia Cricket Board President, Mr. Laurie Pieters, said this week.

"With due respect, the tournament in itself doesn't serve a purpose. It would be different if it was say a qualifying tournament for a proper Africa Cup involving the three African ODI teams [Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe]."

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