Peace Isn’t at The World Cup: Bad News Play in the She Cranes Camp Barely a Month to the Vitality Netball #WC2023 in Southern Africa

Perhaps the toughest call for a coach is weighing what is best for a team that hugely expects and eventually misses individual players, especially as they target for the best of the results against the best opponent teams at a World showpiece like the Netball World Cup.

Teams continue keeping a player or players on the roster just because of their great contributions to their successes. It’s fine if you have got to miss your best players on the team through injuries, rather than when you, the coach felt someone else could do more for the team than those you have been counting on as your best for good time. That would be a disservice to the team goals.

As he trimmed and named his twenty She Cranes team ahead of the Vitality netball world cup 2023 scheduled to take place in Cape town, South Africa between July 28^th to 6^th August this year, head coach Fredrick Tabaalo Mugerwa announced he won’t have the services of his prior notable players on the roster.

These, UK’s based Peace Proscovia (Storm Surrey UK) and versatile star Stella Oyella, the coach couldn’t ponder more but leaving them out preaching to the media how they have serious injuries hindering them to travel to Cape Town. Mugerwa believes that he has enough in his arsenal to fill the gaps left by the duo senior players whose contributions greatly saw the team qualify to the forthcoming World Netball Cup.

So, Uganda will not have the foreign based shooter and captain, Peace Proscovia as well as Stella Oyella, who are ruled injured. Some ‘Peace’ is however restored according to Mugerwa. “Uganda has talent and where Peace is not, there are people who can fit in those shoes and if given confidence, they can do as Peace would have performed,” Mugerwa convinces self on the team.

Arguably in Mugerwa’s mind is Mary Nuba, who bases camp in the UK, Irene Eyalu and Christine Namulumba who recently got the crown of the national league top scorer. Having been the interim captain, Irene Eyalu knows how heavy her task as captain will be during the competition without Peace, though she contends its yet another blessing to the team to make other Peaces for the team’s future.

“We shall miss her but the youngsters have a chance to prove and we believe in them,” Eyalu says shortly after the announcement that she will wear the armband at the World Cup in South Africa next month from July 28-August 6. The KCCA netball club experienced shooter Irene Eyalu as the new captain needs to style up and fit in the Peace Proscovia big shoes, a tune she quickly needs to harness between today and July 28^thwhen the games kick-off in South Africa.

As they return to the global showpiece for the third straight time, Uganda’s She Cranes is placed in group D alongside giants New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and Singapore. She Cranes open campaign against Singapore on July 28 before facing giants New Zealand a day later. The side that will be in the global showpiece for the third consecutive time will play Trinidad and Tobago in the last group game on July 30.

The Squad:

Shooters:

Irene Eyaru (captain) (KCCA)

Mercy Batamurinza (KCCA)

Mary Nuba (Lightning UK)

Namulumba Christine Kango (Prisons NC)

Shadia Nassanga (KCCA)

Kabendera Asinah (Weyonje NC)

Mid court:

Sarah Nakiyunga (NIC)

Annet Najjuka (KCCA)

Joyce Nakibuule (Prisons)

Norah Lunkuse (KCCA)

Lillian Achola (Weyonje NC)

Margret Baagala (NIC and Assistant Captain)

Defenders:

Asingo Viola (Prisons NC)

Hanisha Muhammad (KCCA)

Nakitto Christine (KCCA)

Stella Nanfuka (Prisons)

Kayeny Privas (NIC)

Nassaka Shakirah (Weyonje NC)

Kadondi Faridah. (Weyonje NC)

Shaffie Nalwanja (KCCA)

Author Profile

Daniels N Tatya: Mr. Daniels N. Tatya is an affluent Sports Writer, Commentator and Editor. His over 15 years of covering almost major sporting events makes him a revered and an authority on investigative Sports journalism in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected] +256(0)758268315