Before their opening game at the 2023 Netball World Cup against Singapore on July 28 in Cape Town, South Africa, the She Cranes will have a series of friendly matches in Canada, Pulse Sports can confirm.
The Fred Mugerwa coached side currently camping at the Africa Bible University in Lubowa will travel to Canada towards the end of this month for a period yet to be confirmed by the Uganda Netball Federation.
Ranked 32nd in the world, Canada will not play at the 2023 Netball World Cup, but they should be able to give a good test to the eighth-ranked She Cranes, who will be going for their third straight World Cup.
The She Cranes will then return to Uganda for their final preparation for their World Cup card, and their journey to South Africa will have a stop in Botswana.
Uganda will play a series of games against the world’s 13th-ranked nation, who missed the World Cup at the expense of Zimbabwe by just two points.
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In South Africa, the She Cranes hope to improve their world ranking and placement; at their maiden appearance in 1979, the She Cranes finished 13th overall.
They didn’t return to the World Cup until 2015, when they settled for eighth in Sydney, Australia, which they improved to seventh four years ago in Liverpool, England.
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Uganda’s World Cup Fixture
July 28: Singapore
July 29: New Zealand
July 30: Trinidad & Tobago
The squad of 20 in the residential camp
Shooters: Christine Kango Namulumba (Prisons Netball Club), Mercy Batamurinza (KCCA), Asinah Kabendela (Weyonje), Irene Eyaru (KCCA), Shadia Nassanga (KCCA), Mary Nuba Cholhok (Loughborough Lightning - UK)
Midcourt Players: Margaret Baagala (NIC), Joyce Nakibuule (Prison), Sarah Nakiyunga (NIC), Lunkuse Norah (KCCA), Annet Najjuka (KCCA), Lillian Achola (Weyonje)
Defenders: Faridah Kadondi (Weyonje), Hanisha Muhammed (KCCA), Christine Nakitto (KCCA), Privas Kayeny (NIC), Stella Nanfuka (Prisons), Viola Asingo (Prisons), Shaffie Nalwanja (KCCA), Christine Nakitto(KCCA) and Shakirah Nassaka (Weyonje)