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Ronald Rubangkene on the left and Felix Ocan Odong who were call to under 19 national team crickets. By Odong Stephen Gulu City Gulu, Uganda -St. Joseph’s College Layibi is celebrating a major sporting milestone after two of its students were selected to join
Ronald Rubangkene on the left and Felix Ocan Odong who were call to under 19 national team crickets.
By Odong Stephen
Gulu City
Gulu, Uganda -St. Joseph’s College Layibi is celebrating a major sporting milestone after two of its students were selected to join Uganda’s Under-19 national cricket team ahead of preparations for upcoming international competitions.
The students, Ronald Rubangkene and Felix Ocan Odong, were among 50 young cricketers who participated in national trials organized by Cricket Uganda. Following the selection process, the pair earned places in the national squad and will begin preparations for future Under-19 international assignments
David Opala the game teacher of St joseph college Layibi when revealing the news
Speaking to Radio Pacis, the school’s Games Teacher, David Opala, confirmed that St. Joseph’s College Layibi had received official communication from Cricket Uganda announcing the successful selection of the two students.
According to Opala, the achievement reflects the steady growth of sports at the school and demonstrates the commitment of both the players and the coaching staff.
“This means a lot to the school because we invest a lot of resources to ensure that our students receive the exposure they need to be recognized beyond the school. This gives them opportunities to tap into bigger platforms, just like this national team call-up,” he said.
Opala added that the achievement is a blessing and a positive sign that the school is moving in the right direction. He noted that St. Joseph’s College Layibi was the first school to introduce cricket in Gulu four years ago, and the national team call-ups will inspire more students to take up the sport.
He believes the success will accelerate the development of cricket not only in Gulu but across Northern Uganda.
Students Excited by National Team Selection
Senior Six student Ronald Rubanagakene expressed his excitement after receiving the national team call-up, describing it as the reward for hard work, discipline, and determination throughout the various training camps and trials.
He said representing Uganda at the national level is a dream come true and pledged to work even harder to justify the confidence shown in him by the selectors.
“I am very happy to be called up to the Uganda Under-19 national team. Cricket has made me a happier person, even while at school,” he said.
Rubanagakene encouraged fellow students and members of the community to embrace cricket, saying the sport is both engaging and rewarding.
Another selected student, Felix Ocan Odong, also a Senior Six student, said he was delighted by the news. He explained that the trials were highly competitive and that his selection reflected the coaches’ confidence in his performance and potential.
Ocan encouraged other students to actively participate in sports, noting that such opportunities can open doors to national and international exposure.
“I put in a lot of effort by training every day, listening to my coaches and teachers, and maintaining discipline because cricket requires a high level of discipline. That is what helped me earn a place on the Uganda Under-19 national team,” he said.
Historic Achievement for the School
The selection of Rubangkene and Ocan marks a historic achievement for St. Joseph’s College Layibi, as they are among the first students from the school to earn places in Uganda’s Under-19 national cricket setup.
Cricket coach Brian Owacgiu, who works with the Cricket Association under the national federation, said the two students had attended several national training camps since the beginning of the year.
He explained that one of the key selection camps was held in Jinja, where four players were invited to represent Northern Uganda two from Gulu High School and two from St. Joseph’s College Layibi. Following the final selection process, the two players from St. Joseph’s College Layibi secured places on the national team.
Owacgiu added that one of the players among the two who was not selected may still have an opportunity to join the squad, pending final verification by Cricket Uganda.
“The federation is finalizing the list of selected players, and age verification through birth certificates is part of the final selection process,” he explained.
He noted that players from other regions were also selected to complete the 14-man Uganda Under-19 squad.
According to Owacgiu, selecting players from different regions strengthens the national team as Uganda seeks to regain promotion to Division One following recent performances at the ICC Under-19 tournament held in Rwanda, where Kenya and Tanzania finished ahead of Uganda.
“Our immediate target is to compete strongly in Division Two and qualify back to Division One. Looking at the current squad, I believe that is achievable,” he said.
Girls Also Await National Team Selection
Owacgiu also revealed that four girls from Sacred Heart Secondary School have been nominated for consideration for Uganda’s Under-19 women’s national cricket team and are awaiting final approval from Cricket Uganda.
The nominated players are:
Akidi Petra – Senior Three
Anifa Noreen – Senior Five
Alanyo Angel Michael – Senior Five
Amono Ritah Nyero- Senior four
He said the federation is assessing the players’ performances before announcing the final squad.
Uganda’s Strong Youth Cricket Program
Uganda’s Under-19 cricket team, popularly known as the Baby Cricket Cranes, remains one of the country’s most successful youth sports programs. The team has previously qualified for several ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cups and continues to identify and nurture talented young players from schools across the country as part of efforts to strengthen Uganda’s future in international cricket.