Coach Vincent Kiwanuka may have to consider rotating his squad today as the She Cranes return to action in game two of the International Netball Friendly Series against the England Roses.
The plan behind Uganda’s participation at the test series is to prepare the She Cranes for their third appearance at the Netball World Cup next July.
Uganda fi rst featured at the netball World Cup in 1979 in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago and then in Australia in 2015 where they fi nished eighth overall. Some good work needs to be done to improve on Uganda’s performance next year which is why Kiwanuka should look beyond continuously fi elding the same players over and over.
The She Cranes lost 50-46 to England in the fi rst of the three test series on Tuesday at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Senior players Peace Proscovia, Racheal Nanyonga, Halima Nakachwa, Ruth Meeme, Muhaimina Namuwaya, Lillian Ajio and Stella Nanfuka who have seen it all, were in the thick of action as the She Cranes succumbed to the Roses.
The seven were also on the team at the 2015 Netball World Cup, Commonwealth Games last April and back-to-back Africa Championships. Looking to the future Engaging the younger squad members like Betty Kizza, Joan Nampungu, Mary Nuba, Shaffi e Nalwanja, Florence Adunia and Fauzia Nakibuule against England is one way of honing their skills in preparation for future events.
The six players, who are part of the squad in England, helped to steer Uganda to victory at the World University Netball Championship in Kampala. “All the girls on the team are good but I think they just lack the exposure,” said She Cranes captain Proscovia. Uganda needs to win today’s match if they are to avoid a confi dence-sapping scenario which can easily set them up for a 3-0 series defeat.