Uganda stay hopeful against South Africa

Nanyonga has shone in different roles for She Cranes.

PHOTO BY MARK NAMANYA

Uganda play the game of their lives when they lock horns with South Africa at the ongoing Netball World Cup in Liverpool tonight.
The She Cranes, who are bidding for a place in the semifinals, must win today’s game against South Africa to brighten their chances.
Uganda have fallen twice to South Africa; at the 2015 World Cup and 2018 Commonwealth Games with the latter winning 50-40 and 53-42 respectively.
But despite having the odds staked against them coach Vincent Kiwanuka is hopeful.
“South Africa is a strong opponent but we know things can change. We go into this game with a winning mentality. Hopeful we will win,” Kiwanuka told Daily Monitor.
After losing 64-32 against England in the opener, Uganda went on to beat Samoa, Scotland and Trinidad & Tobago 69-48, 52-43 and 57-54 respectively. Meanwhile, the Proteas have so far won all their fixtures; 76 -45, 90-35, 55-52 and 66-38 against Trinidad & Tobago, Fiji, Jamaica and Scotland respectively.
Uganda last defeated South Africa 56-35 at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique enroute to scooping gold.

Two remaining members
Captain Peace Proscovia and centre player Ruth Meeme are the only current team members that took part in the victory over the Rainbow Nation. “Things can change. We just need to be very clinical and innovative,” said Proscovia.
Shooters Proscovia, Stella Oyella, Mary Nuba have to be at their very best to outscore South Africa’s trusted pair of Severn Star’s Maryka Holtzhausen and Lenize Potgieter, who plies his trade for Australian League side Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Ruth Meeme and Jesca Achan have played well in the centre and their experience will help them against South Africa’s trusted centre and captain Bongiwe Msomi. “Uganda are a quality side and we’ll have a big game against them. Our focus is on them and not what happens elsewhere in the group,” Msomi said.
“We have to switch on if we want to progress. We have so much respect for all the teams here. It’s game-by-game and we can’t take anyone for granted – that’s why this tournament is huge this year.”

TODAY’S GROUP G FIXTURES
Trinidad & Tobago vs. England SS9, 5pm
Jamaica vs. Scotland SS9, 7pm
South Africa vs. Uganda SS9, 9pm
TABLE STANDINGS - GROUP G
Teams W D L GF GA PTS
England 3 0 0 190 114 6
S. Africa 3 0 0 197 135 6
Uganda 2 0 1 141 161 4
Jamaica 1 0 2 168 154 2
T&T 0 0 3 142 201 0
Scotland 0 0 3 115 188 0
*Top two progress to semifinals