Makindye, NIC shine as KCCA and Posta miss league opener
UPDF and UCU netball players fight for loose possession during a league game in 2019. After a year in the cold, the netball league returned at the weekend. PHOTO/ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
- Posta, KCCA miss games: Posta and KCCA did not turn up for their opening games, citing lack of preparation. Their day’s opponents Police and Prisons were on the grounds.
Amid scattered crowds at the Police Childrens’ School court in Kibuli, defending champions NIC white washed newly promoted Luwero’s Uganda X in their opening fixture of the national netball league.
NIC scored 65-26 against Uganda X thanks to the shooting prowess of She Cranes star Stella Oyella who netted 52 goals with goal attackers Milly Nyadoi, Vicky Nantumbwe who had five and eight shots respectively.
Meanwhile, defenders led by captain Joan Nampungu, Nassim Mutesi and Privas Kayeny put up a strong resistance and put off their opponents’ attackers.
Nampungu is confident that this victory will push the team to work harder.
“We have won the opening fixture and this has given us the courage and we expect to do the same in our next games,” she said.
Uganda X coach Raymond Lubwama admitted that his team is still lacking in some aspects but they will still fight to make the best five teams.
“We do not expect to win the league but we are going back to polish our team and we hope to achieve our goal of making it among the first five teams in the league,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the presence of their chairmana and Makindye Division Mayor Ali Mulyanyama – who officially tipped off the league – Makindye Weyonje beat UPDF 47-35 .
“UPDF are a strong and established team, so it was not an easy game but beating them has proved that we have improved as a team,” Weyonje captain Shakira Nassaka said.
Posta, KCCA disappoint
Prisons and Police turned up for their games that Posta and KCCA decided to not honour, citing unpreparedness.
The fixtures will have to be rescheduled to later dates, according to the league organisers.
UCU will also not take part in the first round of the league as their players have not been in training.
“Students have just returned from holiday and they have not trained at all. We shall only play after a month,” said assistant coach Steven Ssebaggala.
The league will return on Saturday with teams hosting games from their home courts.
