Uganda are World Netball Champions
Uganda University Netball team pictured with their trophy after defeating the defending champion, South Africa, 44-43 in the final of the third edition of the World University Netball Championship at Makerere University.
Photo by Ismail Kezaala
KAMPALA- The Mighty Cranes Uganda’s university netball team are the new Fisu World University Netball Champions after a 44-43 hard fought win against defending champions South África. The team drew inspiration from previous netball competitions that Uganda has won unbeaten this year including the East African Club games held in Tanzania where two Ugandan clubs Prisons and National Insurance Corporation (Nic) were first and second respectively .
Another is the African Netball Championships in Zambia the She Cranes won to qualify for Netball World Cup due next year in Liverpool and the recently concluded East African Community Games (EAC) in Burundi. “With the home advantage, and being that netball has gained popularity because of it’s winning ways, the team’s target was to keep the winning status which we have done,” said team captain Irene Eyaru.
Meanwhile assistant coach Rashid Mubiru who has lead the university team in the past two World Netball University Championships, the 2014 and 2016 editions held in South Africa and United States of America respectively, believes this year’s team registered better talent than the previous ones
“Most of these girls represented Uganda in the Youth Netball Word Cup held in Botswana last year, the same team was fresh from East African Community Games in Burundi hence having an advantage over the visiting teams,” he said.
Three players in wing attacker Susan Atino, centre Florence Adunia, and goal attacker Irene Eyaru had experience from the previous university netball games held in USA where they participated.
The trio of goal shooter Mary Nuba, centre player Betty Kizza and wing defender Joan Nampungu who played a centre role in achieving this victory are She Cranes players a thing that put the university team in a better position to clinch their first World University Netball Championship trophy.
