Emma Byiringiro has lauded the U-17 cricketers, downplaying the heat that has been heaped on them following their ragged show at the just ended ICC/ACA regional tournament. Byiringiro, who managed the team at the five-day event which was held in Uganda, said that despite the team’s failure to win a single game, the boys played what he described as ‘exceptional’ cricket. “The boys gave their all during the tournament and there was a drastic improvement in all departments especially in the batting. “Many may have forgotten that the team was only making its debut at the event unlike its opponents (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) who have been playing cricket at this level for a while,” he noted. Rwanda, who had targeted Tanzania, failed to make ends meet when they crumbled to a 2-wicket defeat. It was also misery for hosts, Uganda as they succumbed to a 2-wicket defeat against Kenya in an intriguing winner-takes-it-all tie. Young Tigers contributed the lion’s share to the U-17 side and Byiringiro has tipped the club to lift this year’s Sulfo league. “Looking at the way the boys played in Uganda, I don’t see any one getting in their way as far as this year’s Sulfo league title is concerned,” Byiringiro who doubles as RCA’s schools development officer acknowledged. Last year, the youngsters reached the final only to lose to Challengers. Ends
