By Irene Best Nyapendi
The Uganda Christian University (UCU) Angels displayed a dominant performance, advancing to the finals after eliminating Nkumba University in the netball semifinals today. They are now poised to face Victoria University in the final netball game scheduled for tomorrow.
Aisha Amuge, a member of the Nkumba University netball team, attributed their loss to UCU to a lack of coordination within their ranks.
“We didn’t have the winning spirit. We lacked team spirit and coordination, elements that would have propelled us to victory.” Amuge said.
James Nelson Bogere, the head coach of the UCU Angels (UCU Netball team), emphasized that the victory was not guaranteed, crediting the hard work put in by his team.
“It wasn’t obvious, but my girls worked hard. They faced pressure as the hosts, yet their extensive training and self-motivation were instrumental in securing the win,” Bogere said.
Looking ahead to the finals against Victoria University, Bogere acknowledged the seniority of the opposing team’s players but said, “We are going to fight until the last minute.”
The netball game between the UCU Angels and Nkumba University opened with a strong start for UCU, leading 20-4 at the end of the first quarter. The momentum continued in the second quarter, with UCU holding a 36-14 lead over Nkumba.
As the game progressed, UCU maintained its dominance, with scores of 51-23 and 67-35 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. During the third quarter, two Nkumba team members left the court but returned towards the end.
Despite Nkumba’s energetic comeback in the fourth quarter, UCU had already elevated its performance. Notably, UCU opted for high throws while Nkumba’s strategy of low throws failed to bring them victory.
Both UCU Angels and Victoria players are part of the national team, promising an intense and competitive final showdown.
