She Cranes need to upgrade to standard netball courts

By Samson Opus

To a Ugandan netball fan, the Sydney 2015 World Cup arena should be a dream facility for any netball player.

Its glittering playing surface is the kind of ideal setting players would relish to compete on at any one time.

But surprisingly, the She Cranes have their reservations —but reservations that can be dealt with before the tournament starts in August next year.

Uganda national netball team manager Jocelyn Ucanda told New Vision on Sunday that: “We have never played on such a glittering floor. We are used to the hard surface in Namboole and Nakivubo stadium.”

“We seriously need to have test matches abroad to allow the team train on similar surfaces that is why our budget is high.”

The She Cranes will for the first time feature in such a high profi le tournament that comes with rare experience.

Ucanda who was left mesmerised after learning of the World Cup arena last week is appealing to sports authorities to offer her team a chance of exposure that matches the Sydney standards.

Uganda’s best experience was at the Six Nations tournament in Singapore last year. Though good, the facilities don’t match those in Australia, according to Ucanda.

“Such a surface affects the bounce of the ball which dictates the pace of the game. That is why we need to have test matches in Europe so that the girls get valuable experience. We should not be training on murrum.”
 

She Cranes need to get used to playing on courts similar to this World Cup surface

According to Ucanda, special types of sneakers are also needed to enable the team play on such a surface.

“Without the right shoes, which we are yet to acquire, our players risk falling on the smooth surface,” she lamented.

Malawi training in UK

According to Ucanda, a European tour during winter, will be ideal for the team as the Southern hemisphere would be in winter during the World Cup in Autralia.

The organisers recently released a ‘dynamic World Cup ball’ which Ugandan players are yet to acquaint themselves with.

 Uganda Netball Federation is seeking for sh1.8b to facilitate the team for the championship that is due August 7-15.

So far only sh100m has been realized for the team. Regular contenders South Africa is the only African team that is blessed with standard facilities.

The other African representatives to the World Cup Malawi are currently on a training tour in the United Kingdom.

Uganda is drawn in group D alongside Fiji, Wales and Zambia.