WORLD CUP: Dancing Ugandans to face champs New Zealand

The She Cranes at the recent Fast5 Netball series where they beat Australia and finished 5th on their debut. COURTESY PHOTO

Netball World Cup 2023 DRAW

POOL D
New Zealand
Uganda
Trinidad & Tobago
Singapore

TEAMS
Oceania: Tonga and Fiji
Africa: South Africa, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe
Asia: Sri Lanka, Singapore
Europe: Scotland, Wales
Americas: Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados

Cape Town, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT, netball.sport & central.rookieme.com | Uganda’s She Cranes have been drawn in the same group as world champions New Zealand in the 2023 Netball World Cup. The Netball World Cup 2023 will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from the 28th July to the 6th August at the International Convention Center.

The Ugandans, fresh from putting up a stellar performance in the Fast Five World Series on their debut, were put in a group with the Silver Ferns of New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, and Singapore at draws held last night in Cape Town. At the Fast Five series in New Zealand last month, the Ugandans not only caused a sensation by beating The Diamonds of Australia, but showed off some fine dancing moves at the end of their games.

Pool D will still have world number two New Zealand as the clear standouts, with Uganda and Trinidad & Tobago fighting it out for second. Singapore ranked at 34th in the world is 18 spots lower than Fiji as the true underdog of the tournament.

#Fast5WorldSeries
What you need to know ffe#TuliBabandana from #Ugandanana @UgandaNetball @nbssport1 @thecreedsport @VBugerere @kayiirajackson @CeasorKing @netball_super @OgwangOgwang pic.twitter.com/lTYiYADuQn

— She Cranes (@SheCranes1) November 5, 2022

Former SMASK shooter for the @SheCranes1 Mary Nuba Cholhok takes home the accolades for best shooter and fans' favorite player in the 2022 Netball. #Fast5WorldSeries. Congrats Mary 🥳 pic.twitter.com/mSDBK6Iugk

— St. Mary's Kitende (@SMASK_School) November 6, 2022

There will be 16 countries competing at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town. The teams are South Africa, Australia, Barbados, England, Fiji, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tonga,Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, Wales, Zimbabwe

Though all 16 nations are given a fighting chance, realistically only two – Australia and New Zealand – have claimed a Netball World Cup in the past 40 years. Aside from Trinidad & Tobago’s golden era of 1979, the remaining 16 World Cups have gone to the Constellation Cup opponents. Australia has 11 trophies and New Zealand five, with the pair making up 28 of the 32 World Cup Final spots.

How Uganda beat Australia in the FAST FIVE SERIES last month

New Zealand 49 – 32 Uganda

The second match of the day saw the reigning champions, New Zealand, take on Uganda. The match started frantically with both teams struggling to find the net, however Uganda then began to find their flow with Cholhok netting a 2 point goal in the powerplay, but Heffermen responded immediately with a 3 point goal to make the score at the break New Zealand 6 – 8 Uganda.

The start of the second quarter saw Cholhok score 2 consecutive 2 point goals as her side raced into a 14 – 9 lead. But it was New Zealand’s turn to start sinking the long bombs as they quickly claimed the lead, with the score at half-time 18 – 14.

Both sides seemed to be growing in confidence and were continuously looking to shoot either 2 or 3 point goals. It was a profitable powerplay for New Zealand as their goal shooter, Aliyah Dunn, scored two 3 point goals in a row to give her side a 38 – 25 lead at the break.

New Zealand grew in confidence as the match went on with Aliyah Dunn a stand-out performer shooting at 81% including several 2 and 3 point goals. Full time score New Zealand 45 – 32 Uganda.

FINAL placings at last World Cup in Liverpool, England

Place	Country
	New Zealand
	Australia
	England
4	South Africa
5	Jamaica
6	Malawi
7	Uganda
8	Zimbabwe
9	Trinidad and Tobago
10	Northern Ireland
11	Scotland
12	Barbados
13	Samoa
14	Fiji
15	Sri Lanka
16	Singapore