By Nicholas Kalyango
Former motorcross rider, Isabella Blick Kabarozi has proven doubters wrong as she came off bench to help the Uganda U17 Women’s National Football Team (Teen Cranes) demolish Namibia in the CAF qualifier to the FIFA U17 Women World Cup.
Uganda beat Namibia 10-0 at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo. Teens including Agnes Nabukenya who scored 6 goals, Martha Babirye, Rinah Ariho, Joan Kizza Namulindwa and Isabella gave Uganda a sweet win in front of its fans.
Isabella, a midfielder with Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC, shifted to football from motorcross in 2021 after Covid -19 hitting the country causing the lockdown on both sports and economy. Covid -19 aside, wrangles in the Federation of Motorsports clubs of Uganda (FMU) might also have led to her change in the sport.
The Uganda Martyrs’ midfielder, wearing jersey number 9 on back (not the usual number 4 the MX fans were used to), came in place for Rinah Ariho who had scored the sixth goal in the 42nd minute. In the 77th minute, Isabella netted the tenth goal in front of her dad, William Blick in the stands.
To score, Blick first headed in a cross from a corner and the header was blocked by Namibia defenders before she again laid in another short that went past the goalkeeper. I the celebration, she went towards her dad before doing Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘siiuuu’ celebration.
Uganda takes advantage in the first leg against Namibia in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. The two teams will face off again on Sunday at Hamz Stadium and the winner will face will face Kenya at the second qualification phase.
