Uganda National Netball team, She Cranes finished third overall to settle for bronze at the 2024 Fast5 Netball World series that climaxed in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The two-day competition attracted the world’s top-ranked netball nations, including hosts New Zealand, defending champions Australia, England, Jamaica, South Africa, and Uganda.
In a high-stakes third-place showdown, Uganda defeated fellow African powerhouse South Africa 46-42, claiming their highest-ever finish in the tournament’s history.
This prolific win followed two victories out of five round-robin games against England and Jamaica that saw Uganda finish fourth on the table standings.
Earlier in the tournament, the She Cranes fell to South Africa 37-20, before rising to the occasion when it mattered most.
In the classification match, shooter Mary Nuba Cholhok and Shadiah Nassanga led Uganda’s surge that kept South Africa at bay throughout the contest.
Also, Christine Nakitto and Faridah Kadondi limited South Africa’s scoring chances on defense with Margaret Baagala displaying brilliance in the center, building on her player-of-the-match show against Jamaica.
South Africa’s star shooter, Rolene Streutker, made her presence felt with 11 shots from two-point range but couldn’t sustain the accuracy needed in the latter stages to turn the tide.
Uganda started with Nuba, Nassanga, Joyce Nakibuule, Nakitto, and Hanisha Muhameed, and a quick start saw them lead 15-09 after the first quarter, a gap they preserved despite South Africa’s efforts to close in.
