Namibia gets tough draw
The 2018 World University Netball Championship promises some interesting match-ups.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Namibia will face defending champions South Africa, as well as Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in Group B of the 2018 World University Netball Championship.
The third edition of the competition will take place in Uganda at the Makerere University from 17 to 21 September.
South Africa are the favourites to top the group and Namibia will have to pull up their socks if they want to cause an upset.
Hosts Uganda are in an explosive group A that also features the United States, Singapore and Kenya.
The top two teams in each group will progress to the semifinals, while the bottom two will head into the playoffs.
In the 2016 edition of the tournament in the US, Namibia lost to Australia in the semifinals by 61-44.
They then went on to beat the US in a consolation game, before beating Trinidad and Tobago 52-38 in the fifth and sixth final playoff match, to finish fifth overall.
Namibian coach Manuel Tjivera said he is not underestimating any of their group opponents.
“It is a tough draw. We will take it one game after the other. We don't have any targets for now, because our preparations are not ideal, as we do not have any support from corporate Namibia or the government,” he explained.
Tjivera added the players are training from home as they cannot go into camp, because of a lack of support. He added under these circumstances, it will be difficult to produce the desired results.
The event is held biennially by the International University Sports Federation.
Uganda (ranked 7th internationally)
There will be immense interest in how Team Uganda performs, considering the country's recent performances in international netball in recent months, such as the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Africa Netball Championship. Uganda bowed out of the Commonwealth Games with an inspiring sixth-place finish.
United States (not ranked)
Over the years, the team has come of age, having launched netball programmes in more than 400 community sport centres run by the New York City Housing Authority. This helped the country assemble competent teams at all levels for international engagements.
Singapore (ranked 21st)
Singapore has several national squads. The national team competed in its first major tournament in 1967 at the Netball World Championships. Singapore had a national team compete in the fifth Asian Netball Championships held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001. Singapore competed in the 7th Asian Youth Netball Championship held in 2010 in India.
Kenya (not ranked)
In Kenya, netball is primarily played by women and primarily played in rural areas. The Kenyan national team has just resumed playing international netball after several years in the wilderness.
South Africa (ranked 5th)
In 2016, South Africa's varsity players established themselves as the best in the world, when they returned from the World University Netball Championships in Miami with the gold medal. South Africa remain the favourites.
Namibia (ranked 28th)
Namibia was considered a formidable force in the world in the 1990s, but has since fallen behind in the pecking order, slipping below countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Swaziland, who were once the whipping women of netball years ago. Its university team could contribute to the country's ranking.
Zimbabwe (ranked 13th)
During the Africa Netball Championship in Zambia, Zimbabwe qualified for their first-ever Netball World Cup, qualifying alongside Uganda. There will be a lot expected from its university team in Kampala.
Sri Lanka (ranked 26th)
In 1972, the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka was created. In 1983, it was dissolved by the government. But since the federation was reinstalled, Sri Lanka has made reasonable progress in the Asian Netball Championship.
- Additional info Nampa/WUNC 2018
Namibia will face defending champions South Africa, as well as Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in Group B of the 2018 World University Netball Championship.
The third edition of the competition will take place in Uganda at the Makerere University from 17 to 21 September.
South Africa are the favourites to top the group and Namibia will have to pull up their socks if they want to cause an upset.
Hosts Uganda are in an explosive group A that also features the United States, Singapore and Kenya.
The top two teams in each group will progress to the semifinals, while the bottom two will head into the playoffs.
In the 2016 edition of the tournament in the US, Namibia lost to Australia in the semifinals by 61-44.
They then went on to beat the US in a consolation game, before beating Trinidad and Tobago 52-38 in the fifth and sixth final playoff match, to finish fifth overall.
Namibian coach Manuel Tjivera said he is not underestimating any of their group opponents.
“It is a tough draw. We will take it one game after the other. We don't have any targets for now, because our preparations are not ideal, as we do not have any support from corporate Namibia or the government,” he explained.
Tjivera added the players are training from home as they cannot go into camp, because of a lack of support. He added under these circumstances, it will be difficult to produce the desired results.
The event is held biennially by the International University Sports Federation.
Uganda (ranked 7th internationally)
There will be immense interest in how Team Uganda performs, considering the country's recent performances in international netball in recent months, such as the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Africa Netball Championship. Uganda bowed out of the Commonwealth Games with an inspiring sixth-place finish.
United States (not ranked)
Over the years, the team has come of age, having launched netball programmes in more than 400 community sport centres run by the New York City Housing Authority. This helped the country assemble competent teams at all levels for international engagements.
Singapore (ranked 21st)
Singapore has several national squads. The national team competed in its first major tournament in 1967 at the Netball World Championships. Singapore had a national team compete in the fifth Asian Netball Championships held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001. Singapore competed in the 7th Asian Youth Netball Championship held in 2010 in India.
Kenya (not ranked)
In Kenya, netball is primarily played by women and primarily played in rural areas. The Kenyan national team has just resumed playing international netball after several years in the wilderness.
South Africa (ranked 5th)
In 2016, South Africa's varsity players established themselves as the best in the world, when they returned from the World University Netball Championships in Miami with the gold medal. South Africa remain the favourites.
Namibia (ranked 28th)
Namibia was considered a formidable force in the world in the 1990s, but has since fallen behind in the pecking order, slipping below countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Swaziland, who were once the whipping women of netball years ago. Its university team could contribute to the country's ranking.
Zimbabwe (ranked 13th)
During the Africa Netball Championship in Zambia, Zimbabwe qualified for their first-ever Netball World Cup, qualifying alongside Uganda. There will be a lot expected from its university team in Kampala.
Sri Lanka (ranked 26th)
In 1972, the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka was created. In 1983, it was dissolved by the government. But since the federation was reinstalled, Sri Lanka has made reasonable progress in the Asian Netball Championship.
- Additional info Nampa/WUNC 2018
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