NIC Netball Club head coach Rashid Mubiru has attributed his side’s 42–36 defeat to rivals KCCA Netball Club to the prolonged international break and injuries to key players, while insisting that the league title race remains wide open.
Mubiru, who also doubles as head coach of the Uganda She Cranes, conceded that NIC delivered an average performance after struggling to maintain their training rhythm during his extended absence on national team duty.
“It was an average performance by my girls.
Courtesy Photo
As we moved out to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games and Nairobi Africa Netball Championship, the group that remained behind relaxed on training,” Mubiru said.
The tactician spent close to three months away from his club responsibilities, first guiding Uganda at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, held from July 23 to August 2, before immediately joining the She Cranes’ preparations for the Africa Netball Championship.
His international assignment culminated in Uganda’s triumph at the continental championship, where the She Cranes defeated South Africa 56–53 in the final at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Indoor Arena, in Nairobi on September 26.
However, the success on the international stage came amid a challenging period for NIC, who struggled to maintain their momentum in his absence.
Mubiru also pointed to injuries and the unavailability of key players as significant factors behind the defeat, which ended NIC’s unbeaten start to the season.
“We missed the services of our key mid-court players in Lillian Achola and Fildaus Namulema. We struggled to play without them,” he added.
NIC were without three key players for the encounter, with Achola, Namulema and Victo Nantumbwe all missing as KCCA capitalised to secure a crucial victory.
Despite the setback, Mubiru remains confident that his side can recover and challenge for the championship, insisting that the outcome of the title race is far from settled.
“It is not over. This is the first round, and we shall have to meet in the second round of the season. This title is likely to be decided on the final day,” he said.
The defeat leaves NIC fifth in the standings, having collected 12 points from seven matches and surrendered their unbeaten record.
KCCA, meanwhile, continued their growing dominance over NIC, recording a 3rd consecutive victory against their rivals.
The latest result followed two narrow wins during the 2025/26 season, when KCCA prevailed 40–39 and 45–42 in the first and second rounds, respectively.
The weekend victory also kept KCCA firmly in third place, with Prisons maintaining fourth position after their own win.
Both sides remain unbeaten this season, having registered seven victories apiece, with goal difference separating them.
At the summit, UCU Netball Club lead the standings with 18 points, ahead of Weyonje in second place on 16 points, with both teams having played 10 matches.
NIC will now turn their attention to their next assignment against Prisons this weekend, where Mubiru’s charges will seek an immediate response and an opportunity to rebuild momentum in an increasingly competitive title race.
