Nanyonga defies time: Only 2015 She Cranes World Cup player still active

When the She Cranes travelled to Sydney, Australia, for the 2015 Netball World Cup, Racheal Nanyonga was one of Uganda's 12 players.

Eleven years later, the goal attacker remains on court, still wearing the national colours and competing at club level for NIC Netball Club.

Nanyonga is the only player from Uganda's 2015 World Cup squad who remains an active player, a remarkable feat that she attributes largely to discipline, self-care and respect for coaches.

"I knew that I had started growing, so I decided to have training discipline. Whenever players are summoned, I am among the first to arrive and I do not show off," Nanyonga said.

Her longevity has also been built around taking care of her body.

"I need to stay hydrated, take a lot of fruits and vitamin C. Most of the time we train outdoors, so it is important to invest in myself before the club or federation does," she explained.

Nanyonga also believes that respect for coaches has played a significant role in her continued presence on the national team.

"I respect each and every coach that is given the national team. You cannot play well if you disrespect your coach. Coaches will only give you time when you respect them," she said.

She credits NIC for providing the platform that has enabled her to maintain her form and earn repeated national team call-ups.

Netball Uganda female athlete representative Linda Muzigo describes Nanyonga as a resilient player who has refused to allow criticism to derail her career.

"Nanyonga has closed her ears to negative responses. Many people have talked ill about her, but she is not moved. Secondly, she is social and communicates with everyone on the team, which is essential in producing better results," Muzigo said.

For Nanyonga, longevity is also about treating netball as a profession.

"I realised that netball is a job, so I cannot risk losing it. I am paid the money I need, and it is this money that supports my life," she said.

Despite her enduring career, Nanyonga does not intend to play forever.

"I don't intend to stay in netball for the rest of my life. When the right time to retire comes, I will joyfully retire," she said.

Her record already speaks to a remarkable career. Nanyonga has played at five Africa Netball Cups, 2017, 2018, 2024, 2025 and 2026,  and has won two continental titles, in 2017 and 2018.

With Uganda now qualified for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia, Nanyonga has another opportunity to return to the country where her World Cup journey began.

If selected, the 2027 tournament would be her third World Cup appearance, following her participation in 2015 and 2019.

"I am so excited to go back to Australia. I did well that year in 2015 and hopefully we will put up a good show. I played so well and I was the talk of the country," Nanyonga said.

Goal defender Nassim Mutesi believes Nanyonga's longevity should be celebrated and used as an example for younger players.

"If Nanyonga can play better than the players of our generation, it means she trains so hard. It is proper for every netball player to ask wisdom from her and celebrate her achievements," Mutesi said.

After more than a decade at the highest level, Nanyonga's story is less about simply staying on court and more about the discipline, resilience and professionalism required to remain there.