The Uganda national netball team, She Cranes, will face off against the defending champions, New Zealand this morning, in their second pool match at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa. The highly-anticipated She Cranes vs. New Zealand game kicks off at 10 am, promising a thrilling battle on the court.
In their previous four meetings, the She Cranes have yet to secure a victory against the formidable Silver Ferns. However, they have been steadily narrowing the gap between them. Their journey began with a 33-76 loss during the World Cup 2015, but they showed progress with a 13-point margin in their 51-64 defeat at the Commonwealth Games 2018. Last year’s Games maintained a similar 13-point difference before the Fast World Series saw a low-scoring match that ended 49-32.
Thursday marked a positive start for the She Cranes at the 2023 Netball World Cup, securing a win against Singapore. Meanwhile, New Zealand showcased their dominance with a convincing 76-27 victory against Trinidad & Tobago.
Coach Fred Mugerwa expressed his team’s determination to score more goals in the upcoming clash with New Zealand. He acknowledged the need to improve passes and movements, but remained confident that his team would excel once they worked out those areas. Mugerwa emphasized that, to his team, New Zealand is just like any other formidable opponent they face.
While Mugerwa had the luxury of benching some experienced players in the match against Singapore, it is unlikely that he can afford to do the same with key players like Mary Nuba and captain Irene Eyaru against the strong New Zealand side.
