The International Netball Federation has officially handed over the World Cup trophy to this year’s hosts, South Africa.

ALSO READ:Micho Names His 42-Player Squad For 2023 AFCON Qualifiers

Following the handover, the trophy will today fly to South Africa and is expected to land in Durban, KwaZulu – Natal, ready to start a six-week-long tour of the country, through all nine provinces.

Uganda is among the 16 nations that will take part in this year’s Netball World Cup starting on July 28 to August 8 in Cape Town.

The Uganda National Netball team, the She Cranes are currently undergoing non-residential training at the Kamwokya Training Centre.

Uganda Cranes head coach Milutin Sredojevic Micho has named a provisional squad of 42 players that will start preparations for the game against Algeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The squad consists of 18 foreign-based players and the local-based ones that were named yesterday to take part in the Cranes Na Mutima campaign.

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The Cranes will play Algeria on June 18, 2023, before taking on Niger in September in their last game of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

Ismail Watenga, Farouk Miya, Khalid Aucho, and Emmanuel Okwi are some of the experienced players included on the squad, while Moses Opondo returns to the fold and youngster Allan Enyou earns his debut call, but there is no place for Steven Mukwala, on-form Allan Kayiwa and Simon Tamale.

Uganda and Tanzania are level on 4 points on the Group F table two above Niger, while Algeria already qualified with 12 points.

The thrilling 8th episode of The Voice Africa connected by Airtel, featured Sharon Kyolinakyo who became the first Ugandan talent to be selected by Coach Lady Jaydee after performing Happiest Year by Jaymes Young. Charles Ssekitoleko whose flawless rendition of End of the Road by Boyz II Men enticed Coach Awilo Longomba to turn his chair during the latest episode that aired on 21st May 2023.

Of the 4 Ugandans who have successfully advanced to the next stage of the competition, 3 have been selected to be on Coach Awilo’s team including; Desire Tusiimire, Ronnie Ssemujju, and Charles Ssekitoleko, while Sharon Kyolinakyo becomes the first Ugandan talent to be selected by a different Coach.

Since The Voice Africa premiere in March this year, 5 Ugandans have so far participated in the blind auditions, 4 have successfully advanced to the next stage, one was eliminated and 2 are yet to be revealed.

In Africa, The Voice has had a couple of seasons running in Nigeria, and the latest edition named, The Voice Africa has been extended to other 13 African countries where Airtel operates including, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Chad, DRC, Malawi, Niger, Zambia, Seychelles, and the host Nigeria.

The Voice Africa blind auditions are undoubtedly becoming more exciting as the contestant’s progress to the next stage of the competition, which is the live auditions. These will give the talents an opportunity to showcase their versatility and push their artistic boundaries to become the next great vocal talent on the continent.

Each of the 14 countries has seven representatives who are taking part in the competition and the winner will be determined by viewers who will be voting via different channels after the blind auditions.

The upcoming episodes will feature the 2 Ugandans who are yet to be revealed. The shows are broadcasted on cable TV, Free-To-Air, Airtel TV on Sundays at 8:00 pm, and YouTube across the continent from March to September 2023 when the winner will be announced. The top African talent in the competition will receive USD $100,000 cash prize, Airtel goodies, and a recording contract.