Netball: The Return of National League, Tentative Dates Revealed
After endless questions from netball franternity about when the league and Netball comeback to life, yesterday the Federation announced the tentative dates for the game return.
For the first time, the New Executive, on Thursday, 05th, July 2021 at their head offices at Aga Khan Building, Old Kampala, held a successful meeting with the club chairpersons and Managers and discussed on a number of issues including the return of national league that went on hold due to Elections and Covid.
For starters, the 2021 season had started and at least two match days were held but it wasn’t at standard as the current Federation believes.
Together with the club chairpersons and Managers, they decided to start the league afresh and proposed 15th September 2021 as the throw off date of the league.
“We have held a successful meeting with the club chairpersons and Managers, it was on short notice but I thank them for cooperation and coming in big numbers, we had at least 37 of them, from Super League, second division and men’s teams.” Said Yahaya Ssengabi, Uganda Netball Federation Publicity Secretary.
Adding,”In the meeting, we decided to start the league afresh, because the current one had issues, some teams played without licenses, so to avoid future petitions and misunderstandings, we decided to start a new one. Ofcourse, some didn’t want the idea saying that they already spent a lot, we are going to look into that issue and see how amicably we can settle that challenge. “
In an interview with some of the Managers who attended the meeting, Former Presidential candidate and Manager Mubende District Netball Club, Christine Nampijja thanked the new executive for giving them a ear to listen to their ideas and for tabling developmental ideas.
“This is good, I thank the Federation, because we have been not having such meetings, they brought the idea of clubs having feeder players of under age, this will help us not to fail etc new bleeds always, I am happy for this and listening to us, knowing our views, it’s also important. ” Christine Nampijja told this website.
The managers from men’s teams also been appreciative to the Federation for bringing back the men’s Netball, citing that the previous regime has been thinking about them when they need them for only practice matches for she Cranes
“I am very happy that the Federation has good plans for men’s Netball, we have been lagging behind, none has been thinking about the game, but I am happy that we are evening going to have men’s national team even engaging in international games, this is so great.” Manager Blue Stars Men.
The Serious Issues the Federation, Club Chairpersons, Managers Discussed Thursday.
✓ Having a fresh league/season that is a bit professional when all clubs have minimum requirements to feature in serious National League.
✓ Tentatively, they proposed league to throw off on 15th September but to have another meeting before the throw off.
✓ Club Licensing, Chairpersons, Managers asked to be cooperative with the Federation for the smooth flow of the process.
✓ Branding, the Clubs were asked to brand their clubs for easy selling of the league to potential partners and sponsors.
✓ The issue of contracts for players was tackled and the agreed that the Federation and clubs shall work together for that issue because it’s a serious one.
✓ Specialization, the proposal on table is coaches to distance from umpiring and the visa versa, to avoid the issue of conflict of interest. This means umpires must not be Coaches.
✓ The games to be live on TV is what all parts want to achieve in the near future.
✓ Working together and exchanging developmental ideas is another thing both sides talked of
✓ Vaccination and testing of COVID-19 was also a serious issue talked of, the league is to throw off when players, officials are vaccinated.
✓ Finally Chairpersons, Managers thanked Federation for the great work, so far done and promised to continue working with the Federation I’m Harmony.