She Cranes off to the United Kingdom for Test Series

By Our Reporter

The Uganda National Netball team, the She Cranes, has been flagged off to the United Kingdom for a couple of international netball series.

The UK and Wales tour comes as the team start preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup due South Africa next year.

The She Cranes returns to UK a month after finishing fifth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with four players Stella Oyella, Jessica Achan, Norah Lunkuse who is still nursing injury and Shaffie Nalwanja also with exams not part of the travelling team from the Commonwealth squad.

Four debutants Rose Namutebi (KCCA), Faridah Kadondi (Weyonje), Shakira Nakanyike (Police) and Viola Asingo (Prisons) are part of the traveling team.

“The girls are in good shape to represent the country and have been training with their respective clubs,” said Mugerwa.

The She Cranes have traveled with Seven players on Monday night , with Peace Proscovia already in the UK. The other  three players, Namutebi, Kadondi and Nakanyike will join the team later this week due to visa issues.

Thanks to King Ceasor University who bought 15 tickets for the players and officials for this tour, with Uganda Netball Federation President Sarah Babirye Kityo calling upon the sponsors to come on board not only for She Cranes but also for the Men’s team aka The Rock and Junior teams too.

The University who are the sole sponsors for this tour, in a new partnership with Uganda Netball, will also issue out five scholarships to netball players each academic year.

It’s strong to note that the netball World Cup will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from July 28th to August 6th 2023.

This will be the fourth time Uganda are appearing at the World Cup – They made their debut in the 1979 World Cup in Trinidad before back-to-back appearances in 2015 Australia and 2019 England.

Meanwhile, the World Netball has announced the officials selected for the Wales vs. Uganda test series, taking place from the 1st – 2nd October at the House of Sport, Clos Parc Morgannwg, Cardiff, Wales.

With UAP; Margaret Deighan and Umpires, Louise Travis, James Thomas and Louise Cole while for the officials for England Netball’s Vitality International Netball Series taking place from the 5th-9th October, at the Copper Box Arena London and the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham are; UAPs is Judith Groves, Umpires; Tracy-Ann Griffiths, Alison Harrison and Ken Metekingi

She Cranes squad:

Peace Proscovia (Surrey Storm), Joan Nampuungu (NIC), Sandra Nambirige (KCCA), Irene Eyaru (KCCA), Shadiah Nassanga (KCCA), Margaret Bagala (NIC), Hanisha Muhammad (KCCA), Viola Asingo (Prisons) Mary Nuba (Loughborough Lightening), Faridah Kadondi (Weyonje), Rosette Namutebi (KCCA), Shakira Nakanyike (Police).

She Cranes Matches in the United Kingdom:

Sept 28-29: Northern Ireland

October 1-2: Wales

October 5: England

October 8: England

October 9: England

October 10: Scotland

October 12: Loughborough Lightning