She Cranes set for Barbados test as World Cup build-up continues
- FEATUREDSPORTS
- January 11, 2023
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By Emmanuel Sekago
The Uganda national netball team (She Cranes) will be taking their preparations for the 2023 netball World Cup to Bridgetown with a series of games line-up.
The She Cranes will face the Bajan Gems in the international test series for the first time, according to the Uganda netball federation president Sarah Babirye Kityo confirmed to Wallnetnews that the three test series will be played in the month of March from 4th to 6th .
What you need to understand is that netball is one of the top sports for women in Barbados. It is played at all secondary schools on the islands, as well as at club level.
Barbados’ national netball team participates in regional and international netball meets annually. The netball stadium is located adjacent to the national stadium and it boasts of three outdoor courts.
It accommodates up to one thousand spectators. Most club level games are played there, and the rivalry is keen.
In the netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) draws that took place on Wednesday, November 30th 2022, at the East London Convention Centre, South Africa, confirming the four pools for the first stage of the tournament saw Uganda national netball team pitted in Pool D alongside New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago plus Singapore while Barbados in Pool B with England, Malawi and Scotland which will take place in Cape-Town from July 28th to August 6th 2023.
Head coach Fred Tabale Mugerwa and his technical staff will give opportunities to ‘new-look’ She Cranes side that will be announced soon set for three intriguing tests against Barbados as players bid to make their mark ahead of this year’s netball World Cup.
Uganda is at the start of a busy period with three tests against Barbados, with two other tours with one in North America and another in Southern Africa.
Mugerwa, the Uganda head coach, knows all about building a squad for a major competition and is looking forward to seeing many of the She Cranes in action.
“This time building up to the World Cup, Mugerwa will try to expose as many players as he can, in as many positions, and he will be giving leadership roles to different people,” Denis Mpoza said.
“That’s a really positive step for Mugerwa going forward because he needs to see which players are up for it and the only way is to test them in the up-and-coming series.
“These are positive steps for the she cranes going forwards and there’s a lot of players in there who I know and work hard with and they want to challenge and get into that World Cup squad,” he added.
“Uganda has incredible talent and we just need to make sure that with all of the young talents, we support them accordingly. That means that, if and when they break through, they’re here for good and they don’t get elevated too soon, without the necessary support around them.”