Milestone year for Uganda's netball

Dec 24, 2014

Uganda’s qualification for the netball World Cup was a milestone this season, something that called for celebration as Uganda booked a place to the biggest stage in the sport.



By David Namunyala

Uganda’s qualification for the netball World Cup was a milestone this season. There was cause for celebration as Uganda booked a place to the biggest stage in the sport, having made their debut in the 1979 edition.


Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) needs to raise sh1.8b to prepare the She Cranes for the World Cup scheduled for Sydney, Australia in August next year.

A funds drive was launched recently and so far, there is sh97m in cash and pledges. UNF chief Suzan Anek believes the team can rise to the challenge at the World Cup.

“The players will reap success if they are helped financially,” Anek told New Vision.

Africa Netball World Cup Qualifiers

The She Cranes put up a brilliant show at the competition in Gaborone, Botswana winning all their five games in the round robin event to top the table with 10 points.

The team, captained by Peace Proscovia, managed to put aside their financial problems before and during the competition to qualify.

 At one stage, the team that made the trip with limited funds, could not afford to buy water at the competition venue.

But determined to achieve their target of qualifying, Proscovia’s team put up a spirited challenge beating Namibia 66-24 in their final game. They launched their bid by defeating Zambia 53-48 in their first game before registering a 43-42 victory over Zimbabwe.

Later, the She Cranes beat hosts Botswana 47-32 and Swaziland 51-38.

Show draws 16 teams

The World Cup will have 16 teams — New Zealand, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, England, Jamaica, Scotland, Samoa, Malawi, South Africa, Singapore, Sri-Lanka, Fiji, Wales, Uganda Zambia and Australia.

In group stage, Uganda is drawn with Fiji, Zambia and Wales. The top two teams in each group will qualify for knockout stages.

Uganda’s team is currently undergoing training at Namboole. Early this year, the youth team — She Pearls won the second edition of the Africa Youth Games also held in Botswana.

The U-18 team skipper Angel Namirembe played an important role as the side rose to glory.

The 17-year-old student of St. Mary’s Kitende linked up with players like Sera Zamu from St. Juliana SS, Florence Adunia from Gaba Mixed and Janet Adong from Jinja SSS as the team defeated Kenya 40-24 in the final.

At the same time, National Insurance Corporation (NIC) retained the East Africa Club Championship title after beating JKT in the women’s final at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

NIC won 47-30 to the lift the crown for the 13th time. The teams’ victory was spearheaded by the skipper Desire Obua, Lukia Memme, Elizabeth Antonet, Martha Soigi, Peace Proscovia, Hadijja Nakabuye and former captain Betty Namukasa.

At the same event, Kampala University lost 47-46 to Tanzanian side Polici in the men’s event.

League stars

On the domestic stage, NIC retained the national netball league title after winning all their games in the 11- team contest.

They beat KCCA 44-38 in their last game to go top of the table with 40 points. NIC, the most successful club in the league, won their 18th time.

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