- Uganda Prisons 43-44 KCCA
In one of the most gripping encounters of the East African Netball Club Championship 2025, KCCA Netball Club narrowly defeated Prisons Netball Club 44-43 in an all-Ugandan semifinal showdown on Monday evening at a packed Amaan Indoor Stadium in Zanzibar.
The match delivered all the ingredients of a netball classic: intensity, drama and heart-stopping moments that kept fans roaring until the final whistle.
With a place in the final on the line, both teams fought tooth and nail in a neck-and-neck battle that saw momentum swing with every quarter.
From the outset, KCCA and Prisons traded goals in a thrilling first quarter. Prisons briefly took control in the seventh minute, but KCCA stole a late center pass to snatch a slim 13-12 lead.
A first-quarter injury to Prisons’ Sharon Pita saw Sylvia Nanyonga step in at wing defense, setting the tone for a night of critical adjustments.
The second quarter saw Prisons respond with grit, stretching their lead to five goals at one point. Yet KCCA’s resilience narrowed the margin to just one by halftime with Prisons clinging to a 23-22 advantage.
A standout defensive play from Prisons’ center Joan Reykoboth, who intercepted a dangerous KCCA long pass, drew deafening cheers from the electric crowd.
In the third quarter, both sides upped the tempo. Prisons introduced teenage sensation Nashim Khadaala and reshuffled their attacking line, but KCCA edged the quarter again, 34-33, despite the changes.
The fourth quarter delivered unmatched drama. Prisons surged ahead late, capitalizing on KCCA’s mid-court errors to lead by two with under five minutes left.
But controversy struck when KCCA protested an umpire decision, briefly halting play. Regrouping with fierce urgency, KCCA levelled the score with just seconds to go, thanks to Shadia Nassanga’s nerveless finish.
With the clock ticking down, KCCA gained possession and struck one last time, Nalwanga’s final goal sealed a dramatic 44-43 victory, sending the crowd into a frenzy and KCCA into the championship final.
Nassanga and Mercy Batamuriza were KCCA’s standout performers while Prisons captain Christine Kango Namulumba led the scoring line. Joan Reykoboth earned plaudits for her relentless midfield work, even as Prisons’ dream of regional glory slipped away.
KCCA will play NIC in an all-Ugandan Final.
