After their amazing performance at the World U-21 Netball qualifiers held in Botswana, Uganda U-21 team of 12 players and six officials were given a special heroines’ welcome.
The Uganda Baby She Cranes team was among the four African nations that will represent the continent at the Youth Netball World Cup to be held in Botswana, come the year 2017.
Hosts Botswana will be joined by Uganda, Zimbabwe and power house South Africa, who finished unbeaten in the qualifiers.
Uganda managed five victories (four of these were consecutively recorded) against Lesotho, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi and the hosts Botswana.
They lost two games to winners South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“We are very excited that you carried higher our national flag. We are proud of you and believe you can even do better. Preparations for next year will start immediately,” Nicolas Muramagi, the general secretary of National Council of Sports spoke at Lugogo.
The team was scheduled to have arrived on Monday but missed their flight from Gaborone connecting to Entebbe.
Instead, they set foot in the country on Tuesday, at 2 p.m.
They were received by the Uganda Netball Federation president, Suzan Anek, accompanied by other officials.
“We have the trust in this team. They are future of netball in this country. We shall offer all the necessary support ahead of the Youth World Cup,” Anek noted.
National Council of Sports offered each of the traveling officials on board a cash token of Shs200,000.
Team captain, Joan Nampuugu, a student at St Mary’s Kitende showered praise to the teammates and technical team for the great spirit while in Botswana.
“It was not easy. The food was sometime bad, the weather was too cold and teams too aggressive. But, we fought like typical lions because we wanted to qualify,” Nampuugu told Kawowo SPorts.
They were later hosted to a dinner that took place inside the Indoor Arena at Lugogo in Kampala.
Team Uganda that traveled to Botswana:
Players:
Goal-Attackers: Joan Nampuugu (St Kitende) – Captain, Sharifa Nalunkuuma (UCU)
Goal Scorers: Seerk Zamu (NIC), Aber Kevin (Police)
Goal-Attacker: Shafie Nalwanja (Exodus S.S)
Wing Defence: Hindu Namutebi (St Julian S.S), Faisal Nakibuule (St Mary’s Kitende)
Wing Attackers: Ramula Nakalyango (UCU), Annet Najjuka (Buddo S.S), Betty Kizza (NIC)
Center: Joyce Nakibuule (UCU)
Goal Keeper: Privos Kayeny (St Mary’s Kitende)
Technical team:
Head coach: James Nelson Bogere
Assistant Coach: Imelda Nyongesa
Accompanying Officials:
Annet Kisomose (Leader of Delegation)
Lucy Ano (Team manager)
Zubeda Nassanga (Umpire)
George William Mwanja (Education ministry)
Final Tally at the World U-21 Netball Qualifiers (Africa Version):
1. South Africa – 14 points
2. Zimbabwe – 12 points
3. Uganda – 10 points
4. Zambia – 8 points
5. Malawi – 6 points
6. Botswana – 4 points
7. Namibia – 2 points
8. Lesotho – 0 points
