With a commanding 79-30 victory over Rwanda’s APR Netball Club on Sunday, Prisons Netball Club closed out their Group B campaign at the 2025 East African Netball Club Championship unbeaten and brimming with confidence.
But for head coach Nouredine Kato Hassan, the focus has already shifted to what lies ahead: an all-Ugandan semifinal clash with former club KCCA.
“It was really a good game, APR gave their best,” Kato remarked after the group-stage finale.
“I want to congratulate my team for putting up a good performance. I am proud of my team, the mix of junior and senior players worked for us and we are really going to do the same thing all along.”
That mix was on full display as Prisons rotated their squad, resting key players while still overpowering APR.
From the opening whistle, Prisons set a blistering pace, racing to a 21-6 lead in the first quarter and extending their dominance to 41-14 by halftime.
Even as APR attempted a response in the third, Prisons stayed in control, eventually closing the match with a 49-goal margin.
With that win, Prisons sealed the top spot in Group B and earned a semifinal date with KCCA, setting the stage for a highly anticipated Ugandan derby with plenty of subplots.
“The semifinal is not going to be easy—it’s a derby from Uganda, and KCCA are a well-composed team,” Kato said.
“I have been at KCCA, I know what they can do, but they also know what I can do, so it’s going to be an interesting affair.”
Kato’s insight into KCCA could prove crucial as he prepares his side for one of their toughest challenges yet.
Yet, with momentum on their side and a dynamic blend of youth and experience, anchored by standout performances from the likes of Stella Nanfuka and Christine Kango Namulumba Prisons Queens are in no mood to relinquish their unbeaten streak.
In the other semifinal, fellow Ugandan powerhouse NIC will meet Zanzibar’s KVZ, with both matches slated for Monday. The championship final is scheduled for Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Fred Akena.
