Uganda Women’s National Netball team, the She Cranes have today been flagged off ahead of a tour to England where they will take part in the Vitality Netball International Series.
The team that departs later tonight will use the tour to intensify preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup to be held in Cape Town, South Africa next year. It comes barely two months after Uganda finished fifth overall at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The tour was announced in July this year by Fran Connolly, CEO of England Netball body who said he expects a good challenge from Uganda’s side.
“We are delighted to be welcoming the Uganda She Cranes to England in the Autumn in what promises to be a brilliant series of Netball. Uganda is always a highly competitive side and we can’t wait to host them on home soil in front of our fans,,” he said.
In the series, Uganda will play seven games, three against England, and at least one game against Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and top team Loughborough Lightning.
Four players including Stella Oyella, Jessica Achan, Norah Lunkuse, and Shaffie Nalwanja will not travel with the team, while Rose Namutebi, Faridah Kadondi, Shakira Nakanyike, and Viola Asingo are the new faces on the team.
The She Cranes will, however travel with only seven players on Monday after three players including Kadondi, Nakanyike and Namutebi failed to process their travel documents but they will join the team later. Team captain Peace Proscovia will also join the team in England where she is based.
Team head coach Fred Mugerwa said the technical bench chose to give chance to new players because they are trying to build squad depth before heading to the world cup next month.
Speaking while flagging off the team, the Netball Federation President Sarah Babirye Kityo applauded their sponsors King Ceasor University who bought 15 tickets for the team to travel.
Uganda returns to England with a pedigree after a good performance from the Commonwealth games which saw them defeating Africa’s top team South Africa 54-48 in a classification match to determine which team finished fifth and sixth respectively at the Games.
Full squad
Peace Proscovia, Joan Nampuungu, Sandra Nambirige, Irene Eyaru, Shadiah Nassanga, Margaret Bagala, Hanisha Muhammad, Viola Asingo, Mary Nuba, Faridah Kadondi, Rosette Namutebi and Shakira Nakanyike
URN
