World Netball Rankings: President Reacts on Uganda’s New Position, Challenges Ahead

Yesterday, the International Netball governing body, World Netball released the 2021 rankings and Uganda found themselves in another better position.

For the past three years, Uganda has been settled in seventh position but following the great display in the just concluded Pent Series and Africa Netball Championship held in Namibia, Uganda managed to dismiss Malawi from sixth position with only two points addition.

Now Uganda is one point above Malawi, who lost to She Cranes in pent Series and shared the points against the same side in the Africa Netball Championship.

While speaking to this website about the new rankings and what it means to Uganda Netball development, UNF President, Hon Babirye Kityo Sarah had this to comment.

“It’s a great pleasure that we moved from position seven to six, before going to Pent Series and Africa Netball Championship, we were 7th but with that good performance we managed to go past Malawi. I thank the playing staff, technical, government and Uganda Netball Federation staff.” Said Hon. Babirye Kityo Sarah.

Uganda is only a point ahead of Malawi who has 125 points, Kityo is says, they are not contented with the position they are on because if they don’t work hard, they might lose it.

In her View, it’s not a time for Uganda to relax but to keep pushing especially by having international friendly games against high ranked nations like Australia, England, Jamaica but they can only do that with funds to which they currently don’t have.

“This wasn’t an individual effort but we worked as a team. However, this position came with its demands, we are only one point ahead of Malawi, any slight mistake, we might drop.

So we need to have more International friendlies with nations that have better position than us.”

” However, this needs finances, we have started looking for friendlies but we don’t need to burden those nations who might wish to give us their time, we don’t need to ask them for accommodation or travel tickets. We need to do it ourselves but we lack funds, so from here I ask oir fans, corporate companies and government to join us in this. We have set all the stages where you can stand and help the winning team.” Babirye Kityo explained.

Australia, England, New Zealand, Jamaica still tops the world rankings, Uganda in sixth and second on continent and this gave Uganda an automatic ticket to 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.