What to look out for in the new netball league season

What you need to know:

Except for the opening fixtures at Police Children’s School playground in Kibuli today, teams will host own games at their grounds. Previously, all games were played from Namboole.

The netball fraternity last witnessed a competitive netball league in 2019, the season won by National Insurance Corporation (NIC).

The league was characterised by a tight competition that saw KCCA beat Prisons to the second place for the first time ever.
In 2020, player transfers were done, players prepared and fixtures drawn but the league kept on being postponed till late in the year when it was officially called off due to the persistence of Covid-19 pandemic.

More than a year later, the netball league returns today with a lot of enthusiasm among players and coaches, despite the fact that the fitness levels may not be at par, given the long-time of inactivity especially among teams that have not engaged in friendlies over time.

Except for the opening fixtures that will be played today at Police Children’s School playground in Kibuli, respective teams will host own games at their grounds in subsequent fixtures.

This is intended to widen the game scope unlike before when all games have been played at Namboole stadium.
“It is going to be the first time for teams to host games at their home grounds. This will help to move the netball game to different areas unlike before when they have all been playing from Namboole,” said Uganda Netball Federation assistant general secretary Alice Alweny.

Meeme, Nanyonga not in NIC
Defending champions NIC will be without two of their outstanding players in Ruth Meeme and shooter Rachael Nanyonga, who also have featured for the She Cranes for a long time.

The former joined Prisons Netball Club in the 2019 transfers, while the latter is still on maternity leave.
Meanwhile, it is still uncertain whether long serving defender and former captain Betty Namukasa will be with the team this year.
The veteran player, also a former member of the She Cranes, captained the team to 2019 championship but has been replaced to captaincy by Joan Nampungu – her former assistant.

Although reluctant to talk about Namukasa’s case, Coach Vincent Kiwanuka’s words confirmed that Namukasa is no longer captain.

“We have not yet appointed new captains but Nampungu will be our acting captain,” Kiwanuka told Score.
Kiwanuka is looking to new players in Sarah Nakiyonga and Maggie Baagala to replace Meeme in the centre court.
He has also bolstered the Nampungu dominated defence with Jalira Nakiranda from UPDF, while shooter Milly Nyadoi, a newbie, will be in for Nanyonga.

KCCA promising

The previous season was a thriller for KCCA netball team as they beat former champions Prisons to the second place at the national league as well as the East African Netball Club Championships.

Coaches Fred Mugerwa and Douglas Katabalwa have also bolstered their squad with youngsters from St Mary’s Kitende who include; defenders Sandra Nambirige and Rose Namutebi as well as centre player Malicera Akello . These coupled with national team stars like Shaffie Nalwanja, Irene Eyaru and Shadiah Nassanga are expected to give opponents a run for their money.
Coach Katabalwa is confident that KCCA can win their first league trophy this year.

“We are eying the first position. It is not easy but we have worked hard, gotten youngsters for players and our strategy is good,” he said.

Ajio back to Prisons
Former Prisons captain Lilian Ajio missed the 2019 netball league while nursing an injury she obtained from the World Cup.

The prolific defender’s absence most likely had an effect on the club as they failed to retain the league trophy.
Recently in a television interview, Ajio after curing her injury and returning from her maternity leave hinted on playing for the league side this season while eying return to the national team from where she had earlier announced retirement.
Ajio, who is still reluctant to talk about her return, is expected to push Prisons from their current retrogression.

Makindye Weyonje shining
As has been the norm, old and established clubs have always been on top of the ladder while new clubs have been suffocated. However, Makindye Weyonje have broken the jinx to emerge popular among the netball fraternity due to their continued public relations and other social activities.
When the league was called off last year, Weyonje took the endeavour to organise friendlies with other clubs. The team also played friendlies in South Africa this year and they are expected give competition to established clubs.

“We have been active throughout and as the league returns, we expect to beat various teams to keep our position. We expect to compete favourably among the league’s best teams,” said Eddie Odhiambo, the team’s publicity secretary.

This year’s league has been graced by 10 netball clubs unlike the previous one that had only eight.

National netball league today
NIC    vs.    Uganda X
Posta    vs.    Prisons
UPDF    vs.    Makindye Weyonje
KCCA    vs.    Police
Venue: Police Children’s School, Kibuli

Home games

Except for the opening fixtures at Police Children’s School playground in Kibuli today, teams will host own games at their grounds. Previously, all games were played from Namboole.

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