She Cranes to rely on Nuba’s experience  

The 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup is inching ever closer. And Uganda will be one of the 16 nations that will be competing at the global showpiece, where some of its best talents will be showcasing their skills, beginning July 28 in South Africa.

After a 36-year lull without competing at the Netball World Cup, this year’s tournament is the third successive one Uganda will be competing at. But it will not be a mean feat for coach Fred Mugerwa cutting down the side to just 12 players from a total of 20 in camp. Herein, we break down the star quality that makes the She Cranes a huge prospect…….

MARY NUBA

Nuba was probably born to play the sport. Although she was born in 1997 in Rumbek, South Sudan, Nuba has grown up in Uganda, and has proved beyond doubt that she is one of Uganda’s greatest assets because of her shooting and scoring ability.

At over 6ft 5” tall, Nuba, owing to her experience, is expected to be a handful to many defences, as much of Uganda’s prospects will be resting on her shoulders. She plies her trade in England for Lough- borough Lightning, a side she helped lift their second-ever netball Super League title last week.

Nuba made her debut for the She Cranes during the 2018 World University games in Kampala against USA. She also represented Uganda at the 2019 Netball World Cup in England.

MARGARET BAAGALA

According to coach Mugerwa, Baagala is an energetic player with a winning mentality. In fact, Mugerwa likens her to former She Cranes stars, Prossy Namugerwa and the late Harriet Apako.

The NIC centre has used her talent to acquire education bursaries. From senior two, she studied at Kakungulu Memorial School, Kibuli, before joining St Mary’s SS Kitende. Baagala joined NIC in 2021 hence earning a call to the national team for Pent Series and Africa Netball Championship in Namibia that year. She emerged as the best centre in the 2021 league.

SHAFFIE NALWANJA

Nalwanja is one of She Cranes’ defenders who could have made it to the previous Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool, but missed out on the final 12. A year earlier, Nalwanja made it to the national team, following her exploits with Uganda’s University team, that won the World University Netball championship in September 2018.