Uganda seeks cricket coaches

The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) is on a recruitment drive for a national coach ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup qualifiers.

Justine Ligyalingi, the UCA Chief Executive Officer said Thursday that the association has not renewed the contracts of head coach Martin Suji and batting coach Steve Tikolo due to financial reasons, reports Xinhua.

Suji is a former Kenya fast bowler while Tikolo is widely regarded as the best cricketer to play for Kenya.

"Following the expiry of the contracts for Martin Armon Suji (head coach) and Stephen Ogonji Tikolo (batting coach) last month, UCA has embarked on the process of recruiting a head coach for the team who will start work effective 1st July 2013," he said.

Ligyalingi said the new coaches will handle the team preparing for the ICC World Cup qualifiers in November 2013 and January 2014.

The two former Kenyan internationals have helped uplift the standards of the team, but sports analysts say UCA could not afford their salary demands of $5,000 per month.

"We would like to commend the work done by coaches Suji and Tikolo since their recruitment and would like to wish them all the best in the same vein," said Ligyalingi.

He said they have now appointed former national captain Henry Okecho as the assistant coach for the team and he will also play a caretaker role until a head coach is recruited.