She Cranes rekindle fierce rivalry with Malawi Queens
Playoffs Time. Team Uganda face off a familiar rival in Malawi looking to better their performance at the 2015 World Cup. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- But in her absence is Joyce Mvula, who has shot 155 goals thus far with an additional six assists and eight rebounds. For Uganda, all eyes will be on inspirational captain Peace Proscovia, utility player Stella Oyella, veteran Racheal Nanyonga and towering shooter Mary Nuba, whose cameos have been bit-part.
KAMPALA. Uganda are still well within reach of the primary goal they set more than two weeks ago when they left for the 2019 Netball World Cup that climaxes on Sunday at the M&S Arena in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
The She Cranes, who registered an eighth placing at the 2015 edition in Sydney, set out to finish fifth at this World Cup – a goal still within their reach.
But after losing to Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls 61-48 in last night’s epic and entertaining Group G clash, the sixth-seeded Ugandans must now overcome familiar foes Malawi in the Round of 5th – 8th placing at 7.15pm today. Uganda and Malawi’s rivalry traces back to 2013.
Although Malawi boast of a better win percentage, the She Cranes have shown more zeal as justified by their victories of their fellow African giants in recent times.
Malawi defeated Uganda 59-53 in Sydney 2015 but coach Vincent Kiwanuka’s ladies avenged those losses during the Africa Netball Championship (ANC) hosted in Kampala 2017, ANC in Zambia 2018 and 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast with scores of 66-43, 51-46 and 54-52 respectively in close shaves.
Uganda will take some psychological delight in knowing that Malawi will be without Mwai Kumwenda – out injured for this edition – who plays in the Australian League for Melbourne Vixens and has always averaged 91 per cent while shooting against Uganda.
But in her absence is Joyce Mvula, who has shot 155 goals thus far with an additional six assists and eight rebounds. For Uganda, all eyes will be on inspirational captain Peace Proscovia, utility player Stella Oyella, veteran Racheal Nanyonga and towering shooter Mary Nuba, whose cameos have been bit-part.
TODAY’S FIXTURES - ROUND 5-8
5pm: Zimbabwe vs. Jamaica
7:15pm: Uganda vs. Malawi
*Winners of both games will play for
fifth place whereas losers will vie for
seventh place at 2019 World Cup
INF NETBALL WORLD CUP
YESTERDAY’S SCORES
Uganda 48-61 Jamaica
T&T 43-43 Scotland
Zimbabwe 43-59 Malawi
Australia 50-49 New Zealand
N.Ireland 46-43 Barbados
