The national netball team, the She Cranes that finished seventh at the recently concluded Netball World Cup in England was accorded a hero’s welcome by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni.
A team of 25 excluding the captain Peace Proscovia who went straight to Australia where she is based, returned on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, and were received by the first lady at State House Nakasero.
The minister thanked the team for flying the Ugandan flag high.
“I really thank God for you as we celebrate your clean performance at the 2019 world cup in Liverpool. I don’t doubt that you will continue to go from good to better and from better to best. You have consistently improved and strengthened our faith in you and our pride as a nation, " she said
She also promised to address the money issues that always arise whenever the team is to travel and represent the country on the international scene.
“I want to clear the misunderstanding in the sports sub sector especially with the issues of funding that come every round you have to go out. As we agreed we will make sure we have the time to discuss these issues with sincerity and clarity so that we don’t these problems time and time again”
Going forward, the minister also advised the team not to relax but set their mind always at competing at the global stage.
“I just think that perhaps it’s time that we refuse to become content by categorizing ourselves as excellent African teams and free ourselves to now focus to compete at the global stage .
It will motivate you to aim higher, " she added.
Each player was given one million Uganda shillings as transport refund.
Uganda finished seventh overall to earn automatic qualification to the next netball world cup in South Africa and is now ranked 6th in the world.
She Cranes next task will be to defend their African title in October.
