Netball: E. Africa Club Championship Officially Launched, UNF Express Readiness to Host
The East Africa Club Championship has been officially launched on Wednesday at Uganda Netball Federation Office at Aga Khan Building Old Kampala.
The Championship that expects to harbor sixteen clubs, both male and female from East African countries is set to throw off on Sunday 8th May 2022 at Kamwokya Community Sports Centre in Kamwokya, a Kampala City suburb.
Today, the federation through it’s acting CEO, Francis Banya revealed that they are ready to host the tournament and they expect it to add value to Uganda’s economy as well as giving fitness to the She Cranes players featuring in some of the Participating clubs from Uganda.
“This is the first time we are having this tournament since COVID-19 attacked the universe, this means, the clubs are hungry to participate, we expect stiff competition from all the clubs, as the hosting nation we are ready to host.” CEO Francis Banya said before adding. “The nation will gain in the way of earning, these teams that are coming will leave their money here. And us a federation, we gotten a chance to expose ourselves that we can host, generally as Uganda we are going to benefit a lot from this Championship.”
The CEO also asserted that the federation is to use the same tournament to keep the She Cranes players fit for the Commonwealth Games that are in July this year in Birmingham.
Uganda is going to be represented by six clubs, two for men and four women clubs.
The defending champions, NIC skipper, Stella Oyella revealed that they are ready to defend their title.
“What I can say, as players, we are ready, we don’t have any pressure but determined to defend the title and we are ready to humble whosever come our way.” Stella Oyella confidently said.
KCCA NC is another club to represent Uganda, Shadia Nassanga, their shooter asserted that this is going to be her first time to feature in such tournament be she is eager to have her first time in it and her team is determined to win it, though they had a poor start in the league.
“As a player, have never featured in this tournament but I am eager to see what’s really there, however as KCCA, we are set to win this title, we poorly started the league but we gained and finished second, it won’t be an easy challenge to those who want to win, things change, we can also win it and ready for it.”- Shadia Nassanga KCCA
According to Local Organizing Committee member and technical, Mrs. Rosette Kaala Namuli Mutyaba, the clubs that confirmed their participation are coming from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Female teams
Tanzania:
JKT Mbweni
Uhamiagi
Tamisemi
Male
Muungano
Arusha Jiji
Zanzibar
Female
JKU
KVZ
Male
JKU
Kenya
Female
Prison NC
Male
Prisons NC
Uganda
Female
NIC (Defending Champions)
Prison NC
KCCA NC
UPDF
Male
Kampala University (Defending Champions)
WOB