She Cranes fall to SPAR proteas in tough battle

Unswerving. Mary Nuba exhibited character in Peace Proscovia’s absence and turned 98 per cent of her goal scoring chances. COURTESY PHOTO

“Wow, what a game! What a game !” those were the comments in the Velodrome press box moments after the match officials blew the final whistle to end Uganda’s Africa Netball Cup encounter against hosts South Africa. The game ended 50-47 goals in favour of ‘The Spar Proteas’ but it was not a walk in the park for hosts who had previously easily beaten Uganda in this year’s Netball World Cup with a comfortable 27 goals margin.
‘This was a game for African Netball, we have much respect for Uganda’s Netball team,” remarked South Africa’s Captain Msomi Bongiwe in a post match interview.
Like Uganda, South Africa joined this tournament without a number of their senior players who featured in this year’s Netball World Cup, but being hosts and the best ranked African nation, the stakes are on them to take the title.
‘I’m lucky to have ended this match with all the figures on my palm, because I bite them throughout the match,” Spar Protea’s Coach Dorette Badenhorst confessed.
Although they played away from home, the She Cranes were warmly welcomed and cheered thanks to a handful of Ugandans who live in Cape Town who turned up to cheer the team.
Mary Nuba exhibited character in Peace Proscovia’s absence and turned 98 per cent of her goal scoring chances. Debutants Irene Eyaru and Shafie Nalwanja left no room for critics. It was the best performance for Uganda against South Africa in so many years.
“Our performance was good despite the loss. Back home people referred to us as a Tuk Tuk’ team implying that we are a limping team” Captain Irene Mirembe said.
Earlier, Uganda had beaten hapless Lesotho 98-24.