By James Robert Kayindi
Uganda’s netball team, the She Cranes looks to have put their financial problems at their backs when they opened up their world cup qualifier campaign on Monday. The She Cranes started their campaign on Monday against Zambia who they thrashed 53-48 in the first game at the Africa Netball World Cup Qualifiers.
The ladies from the pearl of Africa continued their qualification bid on Tuesday morning when they took on Zimbabwe who they struggled to beat 43-42 in a tight game of the day at the Bona Arena in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.
The always financially struggling ladies went with just Sh100,000 as upkeep for each due to the insufficient funds at the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF). Information also revealed the ladies left without accommodation fees during their departure from the country but chose to go against all odds in a bid to qualify for netball’s biggest tourney (World Cup Netball). However funds have allegedly been solicited and sent to help the ladies.
The week long tournament has six teams [Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Swaziland and hosts Botswana] in participation and the top two finalists will be joining South Africa and Malawi who already qualified to represent Africa in Next year’s World Cup. Kenya and Lesotho did not turn up for the tourney.
The She Cranes take on hosts of Botswana today, Swaziland on Thursday and will end the campaign with Namibia on Friday.
Connect with Robert
@Circles_k
robert.k.circles@gmail.com