The 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England is only over a month away.
The She Cranes started their preparations well ahead of time in a bid to avoid the drama that has engulfed the team prior to major tournaments in the recent past.
About 37 players were summoned five months ago by the technical team to start preparations. A month ago, 17 were dropped.
And now with the tournament drawing close, the technical team has been hit with selection dilemma given the level of competition inside the camp. Only 12 players can make the squad to Liverpool.
And top of the list of hard decisions to make are the names Irene Eyaru and Racheal Nanyonga. Both players fill the Goal Attacker role and are expected to partner Peace Proscovia in attack.
And either of the players could offer pretty much the same ingredients but in differing packages.
Eyaru, is youngster, full of promise with a high level of defence, hunger for the ball and shooting accuracy and was part of the University team that won the World University netball championships last year.
Nanyonga’s baggage comes with high levels of determination, shooting accuracy and loads of experience which include appearances at the 2015 World Cup and a strong performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia where she formed an unstoppable partnership with Proscovia.
The delay in naming the final squad is believed to have been caused by a standoff between officials on who should feature on the team.
“The federation president Susan Anek and others have been in favour of youngster Eyaru whom they wanted to replace long serving Nanyonga at the national team. However, others preferred Nanyonga to continue with her experience and hard work hence the delay,” revealed a close source to UNF.
However, the source also revealed that Nanyonga is the pick of the majority given her understanding and partnership with Proscovia.
Professional shooters Mary Nuba and Proscovia get the automatic nod on the final team which includes players from the 2015 World Cup squad such as Ruth Meeme (center), Lilian Ajio (wing defender), Stella Oyella (goal attacker) and Sylvia Nanyonga (wing defender).
Other players include Joan Nampungu (wing defender), Betty Kizza (centre), Muhayimuna Namuwaya (goal keeper), Stella Nanfuka (goal keeper) and Norah Lunkuse (wing attacker).
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