She Cranes get World Cup slot

The She Cranes team defied odds to qualify for the Netball World Cup due next year in Sydney, Australia. Peace Proscovia (in action) has been in unstoppable form for the team. Courtesy photo

What you need to know:

The Ugandan team wrap up their qualification campaign against Namibia today but the result won’t matter.

KAMPALA- Uganda’s netball team is unstoppable. The She Cranes yesterday defeated Swaziland 58-38 to secure qualification to next year’s Netball World Cup with a game to spare. The towering Peace Proscovia, who has been in scincillating form in all She Cranes’ previous three games, scored 26 goals as the Ugandans ran Swaziland rugged for their fourth straight win.

Hadijah Nakabuye added 17 goals with Annet Nakiwu getting six for Uganda to remain the only unbeaten team at the African qualifiers in Gaborone, Botswana.

Uganda now join South Africa and Namibia as Africa’s representative at the World Cup due August next year in Sydney, Australia.

In the build-up to the Botswana trip, the She Cranes often trained without refreshments and finances.
They nearly missed the trip due to lack of airfare but their determination saw them head to Gaborone with only Shs600,000 as pocket money. Their perseverance has now paid off as the country will be represented at netball’s biggest stage for the first time since 1979.

The netballers will also become the second senior Ugandan side to compete at a World Cup. Rugby women were the first, featuring at the 2009 Rugby 7s in Dubai.


She Cranes results
Uganda 51-38 Swaziland
Uganda 53-48 Zambia
Uganda 43-42 Zimbabwe
Uganda 47-32 Botswana