KAMPALA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has named the squad that will take part in the Netball World Cup qualifying tournament scheduled for Aug 14-18 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The coach Vincent Kiwa Kawooya, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the team should be able to qualify for the World Cup. "We shall not underestimate any team because several teams in the region have improved," Kawooya said.
The qualifiers organized by the Confederation of African Netball Associations will also act as the 2018 Africa Netball Championship. Uganda won the Africa Netball Championship title in 2016 and 2017.
The seven-nation round robin format will feature Uganda, Malawi, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and hosts Zambia.
"About 30 players have been training and now we have trimmed the team to 15 before England based Peace Proscovia joins on Aug 1," said Jocelyn Ucanda, the team manager.
South Africa and Malawi who are ranked fifth and sixth by the International Netball Federation have automatically qualified for the World Cup because of their rankings (the top six in the world gain automatic qualification). Uganda will battle to finish first or second in the tournament to book a place for the World Cup.
The Ugandan squad includes Peace Proscovia (Captain), Mary Nuba Cholok, Stella Oyela, Zam Seera, Racheal Nanyanga, Irene Eyaru, Halima Nakachwa, Jessica Achan, and Ruth Meeme. The others are Betty Kiiza, Eshter Awayo, Sylvia Nanyonga, Lilian Ajio, Joan Nampungu, Stella Nanfuka, and Muhaimuna Namuwaya.
