Uganda Netball She Cranes: Player profiles

World Cup Netball Qualifiers
13th – 20th September 2014
Gaborone, Botswana

The Uganda national netball team, The She Cranes on Thursday evening departed for the Botswana capital of Gaborone ahead of the week-long World Cup qualifiers.

Pooled in group B alongside Nambia, Zambia and Swaziland, the team is playing for the available two slots for the world netball fiesta early next year.

Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye looks at profile nitty-gritty for each member on the team that traveled for the African version of the world cup qualifiers:

Peace Proscovia: (Team Captain)
D.O.B: 1st Nov 1989
Current Club: National Insurance Corporation (NIC)
Position: Goal Shooter (G.S)
Nick named ‘Warid Tower’ for her height; Peace has a 6 year experience on the national team. She is the team skipper with awesome undoubted leadership abilities on and off the playing arena.

“We shall play with determination in Botswana because we prepared well in training”, Peace vowed prior to the team departure on Thursday evening.

Peace is aggressive to fight and win possession with a keen eye for the nets.

The reigning Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) netballer and basketballer of the 2013 also plays football, basketball, handball, she throws the javelin and a great athlete.

Annet Nakiwu
D.O.B: 12th December 1974
Current Club: Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF)
Position: Goal Shooter (G.S)
The 40 year old is the most experienced member on the team. The former Umeme and National Insurance Corporation (NIC) player has played for the She Cranes since 1999.

She is good at commanding the rest of the teammates while on the netball court, playing with aggression and passion.

Florence Amono
D.O.B:10th March 1974
Current Club: Prisons
Position: Goal Attacker (G.A)
Another veteran player on the team. The 40 year old Prison Warder with the Uganda Prisons in Luzira joined the national team in 2005.

She has previously featured for National Insurance Corporation (NIC) and Kampala City Council (KCC) netball teams where she played for 4 and 5 years respectively.

Beatrice Zawadi
D.O.B: 5th February 1975
Current Club: Police
Position: Winger Attacker (G.A)
Another experienced guard on the team. If points would be scored for playing with passion and vision to win fixtures, then Zawadi would emerge the overwhelming winner.

Formerly with National Insurance Corporation, Railways Netball clubs, the 39 year old netball icon currently features for Uganda Police netball team.

Alice Nanteza:
D.O.B: 7th September 1979
Current Club: National Insurance Corporation (NIC)
Positions: Goal Defender (G.D) and Goal Attacker (G.K)
Nanteza is a versatile netballer; comfortable at all positions once on the netball court. She has previous played for Prisons and Posta netball teams. Another experienced member on the team.

Lillian Ajio
D.O.B: 6th Dec 1984
Club: Prisons
Position: Goal Defender (G.D)
The former Posta netball player also features for Prisons in the national handball league.

Blessed with a great positional sense, Ajio is always at the right time to execute timely ball interceptions and win his team possession. The 30 year old player has played for the She Cranes since 2007.

Flavia Nalule
D.O.B: 11th November 1989
Current Club: Police
Positions: Wing Defense (WD) and Goal Defense (G.D)
Nalule is comfortable at wing and goal defensive responsibilities.
She is one of the junior players on the side with plenty of opportunities and time to learn from the experienced crop.

Halima Nakachwa
D.O.B: 23rd Dec 1988
Current Club: Prisons
Position: Center
From from Gombe high school, Nakachwa caught the eye of netball scouts and she was signed by Prisons before earning a call up to the national senior side.

Her ball distribution is perfect with timely interceptions. Like Nalule, she is still learning a lot more things about the game from the senior players.

Hadijah Nakabuye
D.O.B:10th December 1989
Current Club:NIC
Positions: Goal Shooter (G.S) and Goal Attacker (G.A)
Nakabuye is a graduate of the netball success script of St Marys Kitende, she is a goal poacher, who adds energy and urgency when Peace or Nakiwu run out of steam.

Desire Birungi Obua:
D.O.B: 9th October 1990
Club: NIC
Position: Center and Wing Attacker (W.A)
Born from the famous Obua sporting family, Birungi is a young netballer with lots of potential and time to prove her worth.

She is comfortable playing as a center, though the winger attack department can be another fitting option for the former Mariam High school student.

Florence Nannyonga:
D.O.B: 2nd April 1987
Club: Prison
Position: Utility
Nannyonga has a 3 years’ playing experience on the national team and can play more than 2 positions, an advantage to the team when a player gets injured.

Susan Atiro
D.O.B: 24th December 1994
Club: National Insurance Corporation
Positions: Center and Wing Attack (W.A)
Atiro is the youngest member on the team, aged 20 years. She is comfortable at the wing attacking role though she can feature as a center with ease of a gold miner underneath an excavation 2000 feet down the hottest rocks.

Success Team Uganda.