Uganda Prisons win regional netball championship

(Credit: David Namunyala)

EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

FINAL RESULT

Women: Prisons 46 NIC 45

Men: WOB 41 Kenya Prisons 43

3rd/4th place playoff: Jeshi 37 KCCA 35

NAIROBI - Two Ugandan sides faced off in the final of the East and Central Africa Netball Championship, and eventually, Prions narrowly beat NIC 46-45 to win the women's category.

It was a Prisons-que triumph as Kenya's Prisons won the men's category after beating Uganda's WOB 43-41.

It will have been a heartbreaking conclusion for 16-time regional champions NIC who breezed through to the final unbeaten. The insurance side saw off Jeshi in the semi-finals after brushing aside KCCA, JKU, Kenyatta Hospital and Kenya Prisons in the group stages.

And it was a close battle in an all-Uganda affair in the final at Nyayo National Stadium. The one-goal margin at the end of an enthralling encounter clearly illustrated just that.

Defending champions Prisons made sure to stamp Uganda's dominance in this tournament by retaining the title in a tight contest.

NIC team manager Jocelyn Ucanda will however take heart in how her side performed against an equally formidable opponent. There only had to be one winner.

"We played a very good game and I commend the girls for that persistent spirit. We could have lost the battle again but that's not the end of the story," she said.

"We lost some good players last year and that affected our performance but I am happy that the new players have continued to become stronger each and every day and I am sure we shall reclaim the trophy next season."

NIC's new signed center player Betty Kiiza who replaced Ruth Meeme (expecting a baby) must be commended for her tremendous role in the midfield together with the pair of goal shooter Martha Soigi and attacker Rachael Nanyonga who jointly netted 45 goals in their attempt to lead the insurance side to victory.

NIC first lost the title in 2015 to MOICT of Kenya in Zanzibar and again failed to reclaim the crown last year when they lost to Uganda Prisons by a similar margin (47-46) at Lugogo in Kampala.

Holders Prisons worked hard to retain the title they won last year.

Ever since they recruited shooter Stella Oyella and goal attacker Hadijah Nakabuye last year, the wardresses have reaped victories not only on the regional scene but in the local league as well.

The duo was all coach Imelda Nyongesa needed in her front line and indeed it worked to her plan in the 60 minutes of action.

Former NIC players Oyella and Nakabuye jointly scored Prisons goals at the weekend while Juliet Nakafero, Halima Nakachwa, Lillian Ajio, Stella Nanfka and Florence Nanyonga put up a tremendous show in the midfield and defense positions to come from a 26-23 halftime chase to bag their second title victory.

"They (NIC) made an error by fielding Alice Nanteza but it was of our advantage because we maximized on her weakness to catch up with them and later go past them in the third quarter but otherwise I am grateful that the players didn't let me down," said Nyongesa.

Another Ugandan side KCCA lost to Tanzania's Jeshi 37-35 at the weeklong event that attracted 10 clubs in the women's category and four in the men's side from Uganda, Kenya, Zanzibar and Tanzania.