Netball Commonwealth: Dare Joke With a Leopard’s ‘Ass’ Not She Cranes, South Africa Can Testify
Uganda’s National Netball team, the She Cranes, registered a big victory against Africa’s big girls, South Africa to finish fifth at the ongoing, 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The 54-48 win for Uganda came the first in over a decade and it’s one of the greatest achievement the pearl of Africa girls have registered even though a day for the 5th classification game, they also humbled noisy opponents in Malawi.
Like Malawi did yesterday, South Africa started fast in first quarter and got a chance to lead Uganda by four goals even those the center pass was for the latter. The coach Mugerwa charges quickly bounced back stronger, scored six times consecutively and leapfrogged the the South African to win the quarter 15-13.
Uganda maintained the same spirit like they had in the first quarter, again the scored 15 goals and denied the Spar Proteas to reach in double digits, and by halftime, the She Cranes were up by nine goals, 30-21.
In the third quarter, Uganda lost the control of the game and dropped from the ten goal lead to four which put the fans on tension. This is the only quarter South Africa managed to win, they beat Uganda by 16-11. And the third quarter ended 41-37.
The change, Mugerwa Fred made, to bring on Margret Baagala towards the end of third quarter, helped Uganda to slowly getting back into the game and in the last quarter, Uganda tried to utilize most of her chances before the ring to give a final score of 54-48 in favor of Uganda.
In that last quarter, Irene Eyaru arguably the best player for Uganda in Commonwealth paved way for Shadia Nassanga who also maintained the same performance.
Mary Nuba Cholhok scored 31 goals, Irene Eyaru contributed 21 and Shadia Nassanga added two more in a historical Victory for the underrated She Cranes.
In the game, Uganda got 61 scoring opportunities compared to the 54, the Spar Proteas got
Ine-Mari Venter and Van Der Berg scored 25 and 17 goals respectively for South Africa in a losing effort.
The win for Uganda came with a huge positives compared to the negatives, the youthful team, the inexperienced side went in the championship will negative odds and many Ugandans never trusted them but they put most in the silent mode.
For starters, Uganda last registered a win against South Africa in 2011 in All Africa games held in Maputo, since then, Uganda has been a losing since.
She Cranes seven started against South Africa:
Mary Nuba Cholhok (GS)
Irene Eyaru (GA)
Stella Oyella (WA)
Jesca Achan (C)
Joan Nampungu (GD)
Sandra Nambirige (WD)
Shaffie Nalwanja (GK)