She Cranes plan to rule the World

By David Namunyala

Netball World Cup

August 7-16, 2015

THE She Cranes have the potential to surprise the world and win the lucrative netball title.

However, that will depend on whether the team can have adequate preparations for one of the biggest events in international sports.

The Netball World Cup is slated for August 7-16 next year in Sydney, Australia. Uganda last took part in the same event 35 years ago in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We have got very good players but there are many requirements that we need to put in place first in order to put the team into proper competitive spirit ahead of the World Cup,” team manager Jocelyn Ucanda said after the team’s arrival on Sunday.

The She Cranes returned from the Africa World Cup qualifiers in Gaborone, Botswana amidst pomp at Entebbe Airport. She Cranes Patron Sarah Nkonge received the team. 

Nkonge is however expected to spearhead a fundraising campaign that will help secure funds and logistics for the team ahead of the World Cup.

The She Cranes journey to the World Cup almost collapsed due to financial troubles.

The Ugandan side left for the week-long tournament with only $240 (sh600,000). Members of Parliament bailed out the team with return air tickets. The team was then only accommodated and fed in Botswana on a credit arrangement with a hotel.

Their troubles continued in Botswana.

“You can’t imagine that at times we had no single bottle of drinking water on the bench and yet it was hot,” team captain Peace Proscovia said.

In Botswana, the She Cranes won all their round robin games to lead the table with 10 points in five games.

For the World Cup, a team is supposed to confirm all its bookings from visas to hotels three months to the competition. 

The team is also expected to have at least three friendly games.

Ucanda stated that teams are requested to dress in jerseys and shoes from the same manufacturer.

Uganda will be joined by Zambia, Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, Malawi, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Samoa, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Singapore and Sri Lanka.