Why Oyella, Nuba deserve more court time in Liverpool

Shedding Some Skin. She Cranes utility player Oyella (R) was inch perfect against Scotland in Liverpool yesterday. SWPIX PHOTO

Villain to hero is Stella Oyella’s story in Liverpool. Against England Friday night, she was sent off the court for committing serial fouls, becoming the first player ever to be sent off in a at the Netball World Cup match. Uganda lost 64-32.
But she is now Uganda’s best player so far. The coaching staff learnt that Oyella’s best position is goal attack not centre court. She’s converted a massive 40 of 46 shots—a 95 percentage accuracy.
In the 69-48 win over Samoa Saturday, Oyella converted 17 of 18 shots and helped debutant shooter Mary Cholock Nuba. Against Scotland a resolute yesterday, Oyella was key, again. Partnering Peace Proscovia, for three quarters, Oyella scored 27 of 28 attempts.

She finished the game in the centre, but this time she wasn’t sent off. Rather, she was chosen player of match in the second consecutive game. What a turnaround.
“We really needed that win. It was fantastic. I had to play my game and rescue the team. I put confidence in myself and in my team,” she told SkySport.

Before the fourth quarter, Uganda led Scotland 40-33 but their scoring was slimming per quarter: 16, 13, 11. Nuba came on and said: “Stop.” Again pairing with her idol Proscovia, the twin towers scored seven goals in the first seven minutes. Uganda scored 12, winning 52-43. Nuba has continued her brilliant form in Loughborough Lightning in the Superleague. She picks long balls with ease, and looks focused. She has scored 40 out of 46 shots—an 86.5 percentage against Proscovia’s 82.5 percent.
The Nuba-Proscovia gamble scored 17 against Samoa in the third quarter. A good tally.

Was it a coincidence that when Nuba and Oyella vacated scoring positions in the last quarter, Samoa scored 15 goals?
In the 2015 World Cup, Oyella played only two of Uganda’s eight matches. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, she played only once in six, scoring 22 of 25 in the 53-43 loss to South Africa. She needs more court time, likewise Nuba.
Proscovia and Nuba can play together. Rachel Nanyonga-Proscovia isn’t compulsory. Experiments have shown.

SHOOTING ACCURACY
Oyella goals: 44/46 shots
Nuba goals: 40/46 shots
Proscovia goals:35/43 shots