Steve Tikolo

Stephen Ogonji Tikolo (born 25 June 1971) is a former Kenya cricketer. Tikolo is widely regarded as the best Kenyan cricket player ever, having scored the most runs and taken the second most wickets for the team in ODI's.

Tikolo is a right-handed middle order batsman and part-time right-arm medium pace and off-spin bowler. Tikolo has previously represented Border in South African domestic cricket and has also spent time playing in England and Bangladesh. Most recently he has been playing club cricket in England and in Kenya he plays for Swamibapa Cricket Club in Nairobi. Additionally, Tikolo has also represented an Africa XI against an Asia XI.

Such is Tikolo's dominance of Kenyan cricket, that as of January 2007 he possessed six of the nine highest scores by a Kenyan batsman in ODI cricket. Tikolo has made three ODI centuries; 106* against Bangladesh, 111 against Bermuda and 102 against Zimbabwe. He has been dismissed in the 90s on three occasions.

Tikolo came from a cricketing family with his oldest brother Tom being a former captain of Kenya while his other brother David Tikolo played in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. It was in that tournament that Tikolo made his ODI debut for Kenya. Coming in at 3 for his maiden innings Tikolo made 65 against India. Tikolo went on to play a couple more impressive innings in the Cup, top scoring for his side with 29 in their historic victory over West Indies at Pune and 96 against Sri Lanka at Kandy.

Tikolo further enhanced his reputation as Kenya's premier batsman with 147 against Bangladesh in the 1997 ICC Trophy final. The innings gave them official ODI status and booked Kenya's place in England for the 1999 Cricket World Cup. It was another successful World Cup for Tikolo as he made a pair of 50's against India and England.

In 2002 Tikolo was named as the new Kenyan captain and led from the front in the Champions Trophy with innings of 93 and 69.

Tikolo led the Kenyan national side during their run to the semi finals of the 2003 Cricket World Cup. This was a huge feat for a country that has not even been granted Test status.

After a poor 2004 Champions Trophy he quit as captain and instead led a players' strike in protest of internal politics. The strike forced a new regime and he returned as captain.

In 2005 Tikolo was signed by Haverigg to play cricket in England.

In 2007 he became the first player from a non Test playing country to appear in 100 ODI games. In 2008 Tikolo was selected as captain of The Eastern Aces in Kenya's Domestic Tournament, the Sahara Elite League

Tikolo retired after the 2009 season. His last major tournament, and his last appearance as captain, was the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier, where Kenya secured place for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

In August 2010, months after walking out on the team and indicating he would not play international cricket again, Steve Tikolo has announced his availability for the 2011 World Cup. He announced his retirement after the World Cup but returned at age of 42 when he was recalled for 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in UAE.

In July 2012 it was announced that Tikolo had been appointed the batting coach of the Ugandan national team but in May 2013, he was coach of Kenya national under-19 cricket team and his first assignment was at the ICC under-19 World Cup Africa qualifiers. During that tenure, Uganda won the T20 African Premier League and qualified for the World Cricket League Division II.

He was named interim coach of Kenya national cricket team when he replaced Robin Brown as head coach after Kenya's failure to qualify for the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

In May 2016, Tikolo was appointed as head coach of the Uganda national cricket team ahead of World Cricket League Division Three and is scheduled to take place in 2017.

One Day International centuries

Steve Tikolo's One Day International centuries
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	106*	21	Bangladesh	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Bangabandhu National Stadium	1999	Won
2	111	82	Bermuda	Mombasa, Kenya	Mombasa Sports Club	2006	Won
3	102	107	Zimbabwe	Nairobi, Kenya	Gymkhana Club Ground	2008	Won