Uganda, South Africa unbeaten to the final

USA claim their first ever WUC Netball win

KAMPALA – USA registered their first ever win at the World University Netball Championship win yesterday by beating Singapore. The Americans, losers of all their matches in the first two editions of the biennial competition, took on Singapore after four consecutive losses in Kampala.

Then team captain Amara Mbionwu led her side to their best ever performance. Right from the first whistle you could see they were not about to lose again as they eventually cruised to a 41-37 victory.

It has been a show of centuries as the top two teams of the championship cruised to today’s final. Defending champions South Africa and hosts Uganda had fired in over 100 goals per game in seven of their 10 group matches by press time yesterday. The gulf in form was visibly clear right from the opening day. No wonder the fact that the two sides made it to the final didn’t get anyone by surprise.

South Africa’s 116-6 win over Sri Lanka and Uganda’s 133-24 defeat also of Sri Lanka were the tournament’s biggest results. The gulf in form has raised the concern of some authorities. “There is a huge disparity in form and something should be done,” noted Africa Netball president Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego.

The two nations supremacy is exhibited in virtually all aspects of the game. The International Netball Federation rankings probably say it all. While South Africa is Africa’s top nation in fifth position on the 35 nation tbale, Uganda is seventh.

Zimbabwe in 13, Singapore at 21 and Sri Lanka at 26 are the only other ranked nations amongst the countries competing in Kampala.

Great Britian won the inaugural tournament in 2012 in Cape Town after beating the hosts. South Africa however bounced back stronger in the next edition in Miami in 2016. They beat Jamaica 43-39 in the final to emerge champions. In the semi-final they beat Uganda, who eventually lost to Australia in the brozne medal game.

Host nations organize the biennial event together with the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU). It is a women’s indoor tournament with a maximum of 12 teams competing. A total of 12 competitors and five officials are allowed per team. Uganda, a fast growing netball country, has featured in all editions of the competitions.

Day 1 results:

South Africa 117 USA 4

Zimbabwe 44 Sri Lanka 31

Singapore 39 Kenya 38

Uganda 102 USA 16

Day 2 results:

Uganda 105 v Kenya 15

South Africa116 v Sri Lanka 6

Zimbabwe 40 v USA 28

Uganda 77 v Singapore 19

Day 3 results:

Zimbabwe 28 v Kenya 41

South Africa 92 v Singapore 11

Uganda 133 v Sri Lanka 24

USA 40 v Kenya 44

South Africa 105 v Zimbabwe 12

Day 4 results:

Singapore 37 v USA 41

Sri Lanka 33 v Kenya 62

Uganda 104 v Zimbabwe 10

Singapore 62 v Sri Lanka 37

South Africa 91 v Kenya 7

Day 5 schedule:

10:00: South Africa v Uganda 

12:00: Sri Lanka v USA

14:00: Singapore v Zimbabwe

18:00: Final

20:00: Medal Ceremony

20:30: Closing Cereminy