Nassanga: From village court to African queen

What the report says

Shadia Nassanga emerged as one of Uganda’s standout performers as the She Cranes won the Africa Netball Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, beating South Africa 56-53 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The Observer reported that Nassanga was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Shooter, and finished as the leading scorer with an average of 32.2 goals per game. The competition also doubled as a World Cup qualifier, meaning Uganda secured a place on the global stage.

The article said the victory was especially meaningful for Nassanga, who had spent years collecting silver medals and chasing a senior title. She told The Observer that she and her teammates had focused on becoming champions, and that the team’s preparation helped them deliver. Uganda’s build-up included a 12-day residential camp organised by the National Council of Sports at Allen VR Staleny School in Nakilebe, where coaches worked on defence, midcourt adjustments and team cohesion.

The report also traced Nassanga’s path from a village netball court to national prominence. It said she first took up the sport after following her sister to a local court, later developed her shooting skills in school, and went on to play for Uganda after being encouraged by coaches. The story placed her latest success alongside other milestones in netball and basketball, but noted that the African title stood out as her biggest achievement so far.