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After days of speculation and uncertainty, it has been made official that She Cranes goal shooter Mary Nuba will link up with the rest of the She Cranes squad in South Africa ahead of the 2023 Netball World Cup
The team leaves on Saturday 22nd, and on the same day, they will touch base in Cape Town.
Just like the Loughborough Lightning goal shooter who is still in the United Kingdom, processing her travel documents.
It is a relief for coach Fred Mugerwa, who has, over time, yet to have definite answers about the situation.
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13:32 - 19.07.2023
NETBALL 2023 Netball World Cup: She Cranes' sisters feeling blessed ahead of maiden World Cup appearance
The 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup is only a few days away, and the anticipation towards the start of the tournament is only getting higher.
"She will arrive in South Africa the same as the rest of us," Mugerwa told NBS Sports on Thursday morning.
"That will give us atleast five days of training with her, which should help her understand our plays and what we have been working on," Mugerwa added.
The She Cranes were in a similar scenario last year ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when the team's captain, Peace Proscovia, linked up with the team just days before the games.
She struggled to cope with the rest of her teammates and was relegated to the bench as Nuba took centre stage in the soothing department, guiding Uganda to fifth.
Mugerwa is not worried: "Nuba will have about six days with the team, which was not the case with Peace, who spent about two days with us."
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18:39 - 18.07.2023
NETBALL Witness the She Cranes' rise in 'a time to shine'
Sports Minister Isaac Ogwang, interim Uganda Netball president Flavia Byekwaso and Ruth Meeme who played at both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups also provide perspective about the World Cup and Uganda's journey.
"But also because of the name, her presence on the team gives us a physiological edge over the other teams, and we have a lot of faith in her."
But that has not stopped Mugerwa from worrying: "My only worry is whether the players will cope with her well or whether she will cope with them as we expect."
"It is a big challenge, but we have to find a solution for it, but we have lined up two friendly games which will give us a clear picture.
Before taking on Singapore, New Zealand and Trinidad & Tobago in group D, the She Cranes will play against Barbados and Scotland in build games on the 23rd and 26th, respectively.
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"Those games will give us a clear picture of the competition, the ambition, the facility but also put the team in the actual World Cup vibe," Mugerwa noted.
Uganda will try to improve their seventh position four years in Liverpool, which was an improvement from their eighth position four years earlier in Australia.
2023 She Cranes Squad
Shooters: Irene Eyaru (captain) (KCCA), Mary Nuba (Lightning UK), Christine Namulumba Kango (Prisons NC), Shadia Nassanga (KCCA)
Midcourt players: Norah Lunkuse (KCCA), Lillian Achola (Weyonje NC), Margret Baagala (NIC and Assistant Captain)
Defenders: HanIisha Muhameed (KCCA), Christine Nakitto (KCCA), Stella Nanfuka (Prisons), Faridah Kadondi (Weyonje NC), Shaffie Nalwanja (KCCA)
Reserves – Viola Asingo (Prisons NC), Annet Najjuka (KCCA), Sarah Nakiyunga (NIC)
Uganda's World Cup Fixture
July 28: Singapore
July 29: New Zealand
July 30: Trinidad & Tobago
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