It is exactly 35 years since Uganda last qualified to the World Cup which was held in Trinidad and Tobago way back in 1979.
The national team, The She Cranes on Thursday qualified for the world cup that will be held in Sydney, Australia.
Uganda began with a win over Zambia before snatching another against Zimbabwe then dispatched Botswana and downed Swaziland 51-38 in the 4th game with virtually a classification fixture against Namibia on Friday morning.
Kawowo Sports‘ David Isabirye looks at the 10 gallant ladies and the seven officials who traveled with that 1979 team which played in Trinidad and Tobago.
Three members on that team are now deceased (two players and one official).
Margaret Ndaula and Russe Bisereko (both players) lost their lives and so, was the media attache, Freddie Ssekabembe who traveled with the team.
Ssekabembe was then working with the vibrant Print media of the day – Munno Newspaper.
He was among the 28 sports journalists that Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) honored on Thursday during the 2014 road safety week and the memorial service at Christ the King in Kampala.
Virtually little information is known of the members on the team but Kawowo Sports is committed to getting up their details in the shortest time possible.
Players:
1 – Josephine Nagawa (Played in Coffee and Posta)
2 – Rita Nakazzi (Coffee and NIC)
3 – Faibe Nakimera (NIC) : Currently lives in London, United Kingdom
4 – Fatuma Nakato (Coffee and Bank of Uganda) – Currently stays in Mengo, Kampala.
5 – Noah Mukasa (KCC)
6 – Margret Ndaula (KCC) – Deceased
7 – Russe Bisereko (Old Kampala) – Deceased; She was the younger sister to celebrated netball coach, Margret Bisereko (R.I.P), who also helped to develop this game to the different players
8 – Proscovia Ntege (Prisons)
9 – Noar Kintu (Prisons)
10 – Suzan Okello (Prisons)
Officials:
1 – Justus Kibunga (National Council of Sports representative)
2 – Faith Were Ampaira (Referee)
3 – Dr Ssekasi (Team Doctor)
4 – Freddie Ssekabembe – Of Munno News Paper (Media Attache) – Deceased
5 – Rebecca Kavulu (Current coach of K.C.C Netball team): She currently stays in Lungujja and coach of Kampala City Council netball team preparing for the Inter Cities tournament which will be held in Kampala next week.
She used the Trinidad and Tobago experience to study an Umpiring course while there.
6 – Lydia Bukenya (Former Uganda Netball President): She traveled in her capacity as the Uganda netball federation president. She has since retired into private business.
7 – Bishop Nsubuga Lusse (Team Manager). She was the team manager on the Trinidad and Tobago team in 1979.
The team was pooled in group A alongside the hosts, Trinidad and Tobago, and Great Britain, losing both ties.
In compiling this article, additional information from Rebecca Kavulu and Hassan Kirunda Kakaire was used.
